The consent applies to the use of Valhall QP as an accommodation facility in the periods 1 March to 31 October 2015, 1 March to 31 October 2016 and 1 March to 31 October 2017.

Outside of these periods, the facility is to be used as an end platform for escape and evacuation until Valhall QP is taken out of service.  Removal of the facility is expected to take place between 2019 and 2021.

Background

Valhall QP entered service on the Valhall field in 1980. Under the plan for development and operation (PDO) for Valhall, the facility's design life was 20 years.

In order for a facility to be used beyond its original operating life as determined on the basis of design standards and regulations, the operator must apply to the PSA for consent for extend its operating life. For this, the operator must assess whether the facility has and will be able to maintain technical and operational integrity for the extended period being applied for. 

In the application, BP describes that the analysis of the ultimate limit state has been performed on the basis of new information about wave crests, wave steepness and load criteria. BP maintains that the analysis documents structural safety during the accommodation period. Operational restrictions have been imposed to ensure safety in situations with high waves.

The application describes the measures the company has established for assessing the structure in the wake of potential extreme weather events. The application also describes that the requirement for inspections and analyses in order to document structural safety is to be assessed each year before the facility is put into service for accommodation purposes.

What does producing life extension involve?

New technology and operating methods as well as measures to improve oil and gas recovery mean that licensees often want to keep existing facilities working past their retirement date.

In many cases, continuing to use facilities beyond their design life makes socio-economic sense. But permitting such extensions at the expense of safety is not acceptable.

BP has now received consent for limited use of Valhall QP beyond its original operating life.

Consent has been granted based on BP's documentation of assessments which conclude that the facility can continue to be operated safely and responsibly and in compliance with regulatory requirements.