When it comes to planning the installation of projects offshore, the
smallest mistake can cost millions of dollars in lost time or even
create serious safety threats for divers.
That's why The Underwater Centre Fremantle and Covus Corporation have
joined forces to develop a course, which introduces engineers and
operators to the practicalities, pitfalls and constraints associated
with offshore subsea intervention. Input for the course also came
from Clough Offshore and Woodside’s Core Subsea Group.
Three key objectives of the "Introduction
to Offshore Diving" were identified:
• To introduce the various codes,
standards and regulations relevant to diving and ROV operations
offshore.
• To introduce different diving
techniques and illustrate the abilities/limitations for each.
• To display typical diving and
ROV equipment to ensure familiarity.
The two-day course was run by TUCF at their facilities in Fremantle.
Participants are given the opportunity to-don commercial diving equipment
for simple underwater tasks under controlled conditions.
One of the tasks involves the participants diving in pairs on to a
sunken barge where they attempt to raise a small pontoon to the surface.
Inflatable lift bags are attached to the pontoon and inflated using
supplementary air before being brought to the surface.
Another task sees participants take part in a simulated dive to 50
m using a decompression chamber.
Woodside’s Northern Endeavour production planner Bill Bell appreciated
the course he attended in August. "I went away with a better
understanding of the legislative, logistical and operational constraints
that a dive team operates under when working offshore," he says.
"It's not just a case of throwing on your goggles and flippers
and jumping in. There's a very detailed and safety-conscious process
to follow".
"Simple concepts like needing a five-man team to safely deploy
one offshore diver helps me, as a planner, to better evaluate the
number of people we will need onboard an asset such as the Northern
Endeavour at any given time as well as the number of beds that will
be occupied".
"The practical part of the course was also an eye-opener. The
sheer physical effort involved in working underwater was something
else, even the simplest task took us five times longer to complete
than if we were in the office. It really gave me an appreciation of
the time needed when planning for a dive project".
"The course is definitely an important learning experience for
anyone who deals with the Core Subsea Group or for any assets requiring
dive operations." The Woodside Core Subsea Group (or CSG) Subsea
Manager Oscar Steinsvaag says the response from the first two courses
has left the door open for more to be held next year.
For more information contact:
TUCF
8 Rous Head Road, North Fremantle, WA 6159, Australia
Tel: +61 8 9336 3343
FAX: +61 8 9336 3345
Email: milly@tucf.com.au |
