Remote monitoring of Norsk Hydro offshore valves

A new shore based control valve diagnostic centre utilises asset optimisation services to remotely monitor Fisher control valve performance on the Norsk Hydro Oseberg platform in the North Sea

Emerson Process Management and Bjorge Solberg and Andersen, the Norwegian agent for Emerson valve products and services have established a control valve diagnostic centre that utilises asset optimisation services, to monitor control valve performance on the Norsk Hydro Oseberg platform.

The Fisher Fieldvue instrumented valves will be monitored utilising AMS-ValveLink performance diagnostic software.

The service that is being provided includes the remote monitoring of control valve performance indicators and status alarms in order to predict when maintenance may be required.

Emerson and Solberg worked closely with Norsk Hydro to clearly define procedures that would guarantee the safety of plant personnel and assets at the offshore installation, the diagnostics centre was established to meet these requirements.

Work processes were developed for the effective handling of device alarms so that the information reaches the people who require it, in a timely manner.

The Oseberg South monitoring project was established as a trial in June, 2002 and will last for one year.

It is the first offshore project of this type to be undertaken by Emerson.

At the outset of the contract, Emerson and Solberg worked with Norsk Hydro to identify the valves to be monitored, as well as establishing a control group against which the monitored valves could be compared.

Success factors were agreed upon that will be reviewed in June 2003 to determine what benefits control valve performance monitoring provides.

The success factors are: no unpredictable stoppages caused by a valve failure; reduced maintenance costs; and fewer and shorter maintenance intervals.

Emerson and Solberg are working with Statoil on similar contracts.

"It is through close cooperation between Emerson, Solberg and Norsk Hydro that we have managed to establish this Diagnostics Centre" said Tore Hermansen, the Solberg valve diagnostics manager.

"We have listened to the requirements of our customers and then worked with Emerson to establish a service that will meet them".

"We are delighted with the results that we have seen from this contract so far" said Joe Podolsky, Emerson Director for Asset Optimisation for Europe.

"The offshore industry is very demanding in terms of their safety and performance requirements.

We are demonstrating that the remote monitoring of control valve performance is both safe and beneficial".

Control valve performance monitoring services are part of the Emerson family of world-class Asset Optimisation services, that help users make significant and continuous improvements in production asset performance.

Control valve performance data is delivered by the PlantWeb architecture that automates the flow of information on control valve reliability and performance to the people who run the business.

The control valve performance services help users apply and use the information to significantly improve process plant reliability.

The results include improved process availability, reduced variability, increased maintenance productivity, and reduced equipment cost-of-ownership.

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