Tilt, settlement and air gap surveys are required to monitor an offshore structure, ensuring the safety and integrity of the installation through its operational life. As oil and gas are extracted from a field there is a possibility that platforms tilt, settle or sink which compromises their safety and can lead to catastrophic failure.

There are well documented recent examples of this type of failure in both Myanmar and the Norwegian North Sea which caused considerable risk to the safe operation of the facility as well as operational downtime.

Normally insurance companies require tilt and settlement monitoring surveys to be regularly carried out  to ensure the ongoing safety of the structure.

NB Group services include precise long range GPS, precise levelling and analysis of current air gap in relation to mean sea level and highest predicted wave height. Yearly comparisons are made to historical data to identify tilt and settlement trends or comfirm the stability of the structure.

NB Group have supported a variety of operators in meeting their Structural Integrity Management obligations for over 30 years, by assisting in developing methods and procedures for monitoring the environmental loads on their fixed offshore assets.

With the update of the Offshore Safety Directive policy in 2015, we can provide the necessary support to ensure that your Safety Case (Schedule 6) remains compliant with regard consideration of environmental loading parameters.

To find out more, contact your local NB Group survey team today: