Pipelines and subsea facilities are a key feature of the Norwegian petroleum industry. To ensure that the industry is operated responsibly and with the lowest possible risk, Havtil works systematically to augment risk-based follow-up. Structural safety is a priority area, and experiences from incidents with major accident potential are followed up closely. These activities are also included as indicators in the RNNP Trends in risk level reports.
On commission from Havtil, Lloyd's Register EMEA has prepared a report to establish an experience base for assessing different types of connectors in pipelines and subsea facilities. The report describes both welded and mechanical connectors, common fault modes and available statistics.
The study points out that the choice of connectors in the design phase is of great importance for safety later in the service life. A good design choice reduces the risk of failure and contributes to safe and efficient operation.