Environment
Bureau Veritas launches Polar rules and ice guidance for vessels I
nternational classification society Bureau Veritas has published new rules for Polar Class vessels and specific
guidance on ice/structure interaction. The rules are aimed at speeding Arctic and Caspian
Sea oil and gas development by facilitating the building of tank, cargo and offshore service vessels which can operate unsupported by icebreakers in very heavy ice. The guidance note aims to facilitate floating LNG and oil platform construction in high Arctic conditions. According to Philippe Baumans, director of
development, Bureau Veritas, “BV’s new “Rules for the Classification of POLAR CLASS and ICEBREAKER Ships”, bring together for the first time the requirements for icebreakers and the requirements for Polar Class cargo and other service vessels such as oilfield support vessels. Our Polar Rules covered the requirements for ships operating in the high Arctic, accompanied by an icebreaker, and there are separate rules for icebreakers. But for extracting oil and gas from the Arctic, and also from the very icy and difficult Caspian Sea, there is an increasing demand for vessels which can carry cargo and also ram and break ice
unsupported by an icebreaker. Under our new Polar Rules that is possible, and the owner can choose an icebreaker class from 1 to 7 for the cargo vessel, tanker or psv they need, which will reflect the heaviness of the ice that can be dealt with unsupported.” BV is currently classing a series of offshore vessels
specifically forthe Caspian Sea, which has very heavy ice characteristics. “We are considering a specific Caspian notation, as although the ice requirements in the Caspian are similar to the Arctic in some ways, in others they differ,” explains Baumans. “Understanding ice loads and structure in detail is vital to that, as it is for the new generation of offshore floater that will be needed for high Arctic fields such as Shtokman.” That is why BV has published Guidance Note NI565
“Ice Characteristics and Ice/Structure Interactions”. The purpose of this Guidance Note is to collect and provide data on ice characteristics as well as giving some guidance on the calculations of the forces generated by the ice on ships and offshore structures. It indicates some information on the different types of ice and on their
mechanical properties. It gives some analytical formulae and methodologies to estimate the forces applied on the structures due to ice, with respect to the different modes of failure of the ice. “We have done extensive work with St Petersburg
University and Aker Arctic on ice loads, much for the Shtokman project and aimed at clarifying the needs for floating LNG platforms and LNG shuttle tankers. These guidance notes are a way in which we can share that knowledge with industry,” explains Baumans. “We have further refined our IceSTAR ice load calculation software, which we hope to make available to industry next year. We also expect to publish new rules and guidance for using podded propulsion in ice next year. That will facilitate the development of double acting tankers and gas carriers. They will break ice stern first and make ocean transits bow first, maximising the hull form efficiency in each environments.” ●
For more information, visit
www.bureauveritas.com
Protecting oil and gas workers against hazardous materials
W
orking in the oil and gas industry means workers are exposed to a wide range of
hazards including chemicals, oils and lubricants as well as exposure to fine dusts, liquid aerosols, splashes, liquids and gases as well as the risk of working in a potentially explosive atmosphere. Selecting the right protection for employees in this environment can be an onerous task as clothing needs to provide protection against these hazards. The range of protective coveralls and clothing by DuPont is specifically designed to ensure workers facing multiple hazards remain protected and its solutions work together to offer the highest level of protection. Upstream and downstream activities which
recover and produce crude oil and natural gas from its raw state out of the ground (upstream) and refine crude oil and sell or distribute natural gas to the industry as end products (downstream) require complex protective clothing that needs to offer protection against a multitude of hazards. Workers in these areas are presented with hazards that, if not properly protected, could result in serious injuries or long-term occupational diseases. From July 2006, the ATEX Directivewas introduced
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to ensure that people working in potentially explosive atmospheres were properly protected. As part of the directive, ‘explosion protection zones’ or ‘Ex-zones’ are identified and classified into various categories depending on the frequency and length of time the hazard exists. This classification enables the relevant protective garments and accessories to be selected. In order to ensure sufficient protection for the wearer, Nomex, Tyvek and Tychem products have antistatic properties and meet the requirements of the ATEX Directive. A comprehensive fact sheet Working safely in potentially explosive areas with DuPont coveralls, is available from DuPont. DuPont Tyvek and Tychem coveralls can offer
much needed protection against chemicals and particulates. DuPont Tyvek non-woven material delivers inherent barrier protection, is durable and breathable and the Tyvek Classic and Tyvek Classic Plus single-use coveralls offer protection against fine particles and low pressurised inorganic water-based chemicals of low concentration. ●
For more information, visit
www.dpp-europe.com
Mini motor for extreme conditions
A
new 22mm diameter brushless motor, which was initially developed in collaboration with the UK’s
oil exploration industry, offers exceptional performance in terms of shock, vibration and temperature tolerances. Maxon Motor says that the new EC22 Heavy Duty is
the most robust motor it has ever produced. Originally developed for downhole applications in the oil industry, the motor features new rotor technology to withstand temperatures as high as 240˚C, pressures from high vacuum to 1700bar, vibration of 25 ‘g’ rms and impact forces of 100 ‘g’ – and still deliver the absolute reliability required three miles under the ocean floor.Furthermore, the EC22 HD can run fully submerged in oil, which has the added benefit of trebling its 80W output rating thanks to heat dissipation, thereby generating 240W from the 22mm-diameter frame. It is now believed that the motor’s specification will open new possibilities in other challenging engineering environments. ●
For more information, visit
www.maxonmotor.co.uk
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