Risk Based Underwater Inspection RBUI Methodology for Subsea Integrity Management SubSIM of Subsea Assets in Malaysian Operations

PETRONAS currently operates several subsea fields in Malaysian water. In 2019, PETRONAS embarked on developing Subsea Integrity Management (SubSIM) for Malaysian operations, to better understand and manage the operating risks of subsea assets throughout the lifecycle of a subsea field development. Subsea Integrity Management (SubSIM) is a Management System which ensures appropriate processes and procedures are applied throughout the subsea asset life cycle, from commissioning all the way through to decommissioning, to ensure that through a process of risk management, the subsea asset fitness-for-purpose will be upheld. PETRONAS has also initiated a Data-Driven Maintenance workstream whereby the PETRONAS's Upstream Inspection and Maintenance Assurance Guideline (U-IMAGe) has been determined as a key enabler for PETRONAS top-quartile oil and gas industry performance. U-IMAGe is a standard suite of guidelines for the implementation of inspection and maintenance programs in PETRONAS upstream production facilities, where subsea assets are part of this (PETRONAS, 2018b). An essential element of U-IMAGe is an effective data management to drive inspection and maintenance strategy. In order to ensure effective delivery of SubSIM and to support and strengthen the U-IMAGe implementation, PETRONAS has embarked on a Subsea Risk Based Underwater Inspection (RBUI) strategy and methodology for its subsea assets (PETRONAS 2020). As part of SubSIM that supports the U-IMAGe implementation, the Subsea RBUI approach prioritizes and optimizes inspection efforts by balancing risk costs (people, safety, environmental or business related) with inspection costs, and allows a better understanding of risk levels over the intended life of the subsea asset to initiate cost effective remedial actions. The Subsea RBUI involves identification of threats on a subsea asset, development of the integrity loops and risk assessments (PETRONAS 2020). The risk assessments are then used as a tool to develop suitable inspection plans. The risk assessments will also be used to optimise the operational inspection plans and frequencies, focusing on the safety, environmental and financial risks as well as the inspection costs. This paper will address the methodology and tools used to conduct Subsea Risk Based Underwater Inspection (RBUI) planning for subsea asset within PETRONAS Operations.