Back-Up Intervention Control Systems (BUICSs)
22 April 2008 London Evening Meeting
Chairman Jim Cattanach, Intec Engineering Ltd
Sponsored by Vecto Gray
Overview
BUICSs are basically stand-by control system packages which can be called upon in the event that the main production control system fails through loss of functionality of the main umbilical. Their use is aimed at long tie-backs where loss of production would have major financial implications for the operator, in particular, those with contractual supply obligations. In the event of such a loss of functionality, the BUIC package can be 'dusted-down' and installed on a vessel of convenience. This is then anchored in the field and the BUICS used to provide local control, thus maintaining production whilst the umbilical link is reinstated.
This is where the 'fun and games' start; how do you design a system that can be safely deployed and operated from vessels of convenience? To date, four systems have been designed and manufactured with designers and manufacturers on difficult learning curves. With the trend towards developing large fields by means of long tie-backs to shore, with this history we now know that BUICSs need to be considered as part of the initial engineering and not as simple additions to the control system packages.
The presentations were aimed at providing overviews of the issues and difficulties in designing and building such control system packages. In this way, specifiers of such systems will have a better appreciation of what needs to be addressed within ITT/contract specifications, tenderers/contractors will better understand the design and manufacturing issues and package requirements and, importantly for operators, why BUICSs are inheritently expensive.
Presentations
BUICSs-Design Drivers and Technical Solutions
Phil Kingerlee, Vecto Gray
Patrick Kearney, Technical Director, JDR Umbilical Systems