Section 5 Verification

5.1.1 Independent verification provides the Owner of an asset with assurance on lifecycle hazard management, safeguarding personnel on an installation and the associated environment. Verification confirms the suitability of the components/system in accordance with the requirements defined by the Owner. It involves agreement between the verifier and the Owner throughout the entire process, typically in a goal-setting form.

5.1.2 Depending on the country and state where an asset is located, verification can be regulated or not driven by legislation. In legislative frameworks where verification is regulated, the intent and scope of verification is driven by the underlying legislation. An example of such legislative framework is Directive 2013/30/EU on the Safety of Offshore Oil and Gas Operations, where, through the verification process, Safety and Environmental Critical Elements (SECE) are established and each examined for suitability for the intended purpose.

5.1.3 Where a flexible pipe system is identified as a SECE or is otherwise identified as requiring verification, the associated ancillary equipment should be screened. The ancillary equipment which provides a role in maintaining the integrity of the flexible pipe system, from just after installation up to decommissioning, is a SECE and should be included in the scope of verification.

5.1.4 Under the European Safety Directive, a verification scheme requires formation of performance criteria for each SECE, known as performance standards. Performance standards define essential requirements that flexible pipe system must meet. These performance requirements can include functionality, availability, reliably, survivability, integration, interactions and dependencies requirements. With regards to the two latter performance requirements, i.e. interactions and dependencies, the performance of a flexible pipe system should be assessed in relation to interfaces stated in Ch 1, 2.2 Definitions 2.2.6.

5.1.5 In the verification scheme, verification tasks should be defined by the Owner and LR based on the legislation, specifying the nature and frequency of examinations, i.e. an instruction to the verifier, known as Verification Work Instruction (VWI), on how to verify the suitability of the SECE.

5.2.1 The scope for verification for a flexible pipe system is to confirm the suitability in accordance with defined performance criteria, not necessarily limited to recognised Codes or standards, e.g. those stated in Ch 1, 4.2 Scope 4.2.2.

5.2.2 Verification covers design and manufacture, and can be extended to cover installation, commissioning and continued suitability, i.e. fitness for service and life extension.

5.3.1 Verification assessment, depending on the requirements of the performance standards, is achieved through a combination of desktop review and physical surveillance activities.

5.3.2 For new construction, verification is performed through desktop review of design and installation, and physical surveillance of manufacture of pipe body, manufacture and assembly of end fittings, manufacture of ancillary equipment, installation and commissioning including field hydrostatic pressure test, and for unbonded flexible pipes, annulus vacuum test and whether annulus monitoring is available and operational.

5.3.3 For continued suitability of aged components/system, verification is performed through desktop review of fitness for service assessment or life extension analysis, and physical surveillance of pipe body, end fittings and ancillary equipment.

5.3.4 A sampling approach is permitted for both desktop review and physical surveillance activities, in accordance with Ch 1, 4.3 Overview 4.3.3.

5.3.5 Guidance notes from Ch 1, 4.3 Overview 4.3.1, Ch 1, 4.3 Overview 4.3.4 and Ch 1, 4.3 Overview 4.3.5 apply.

5.4.1 Guidance notes from Ch 1, 4.4 Design assessment apply.

5.5.1 Guidance notes from Ch 1, 4.5 Manufacture assessment apply.

5.6.1 Assessments of installation and as-built are performed through a combination of desktop review and physical surveillance activities.

5.6.3 Physical surveillance should be performed to ensure that the installation activities are in accordance with manufacturer and Owner installation recommendations and the accepted specifications and procedures. General visual examination should be performed to confirm that gas venting system is operational and satisfactory (i.e. that vent paths are clear). For unbonded flexible pipe, this includes examination of annulus monitoring system.

5.7.1 Assessment of fitness for service/ life extension is performed through a combination of desktop review and physical surveillance activities.

5.7.4 Physical examination is performed through surveillance of pipe body, end fittings and ancillary equipment for defects, damage and tests including post-repair tests.

5.7.5 As stress analysis methodology, fatigue SN curves and polymer ageing data are typically proprietary information, stress, fatigue and ageing evaluation reassessment are recommended to be performed by the original manufacturer.

5.7.6 Due to immaturity of NDE techniques and failure mechanisms for flexible pipe products, condition and integrity of layers and components cannot be reliably measured and verified. At the time of publication of these Guidance Notes, life extension of static or dynamic flexible riser systems is currently not recommended.

5.7.7 If recognised Codes or standards are used for life extension, it is a good engineering practise to use the most up-to-date revision of these even if the original design of the system had been to an older revision.

5.8.1 Deliverables should reflect the activities performed by the verifier based on the scope specified by asset Owner.