Pipe Handling Technology Brings Safety to the Industry, Now and for the Future
Drilling for offshore gas and oil is a challenging activity at the best of times, with teams battling against the elements to extract valuable crude oil and natural gas from reservoirs beneath the seabed. Following a period with several significant incidents on offshore platforms in the 1980s and 1990s (including at Piper Alpha in 1988, and on the Alexander L Kielland semi-submersible platform in 1980 [1]), a vast number of improvements have been made to the technology, systems and processes that make extraction possible, helping to improve the overall safety of the individuals working on these platforms. However, there is still more that can be done to enhance personal safety.
The UK Offshore Statistics and Regulatory Activity Report 2019 states that there was a total of 98 injuries noted under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations in 2019, with 21% of these injuries associated with lifting, carrying and handling, and 8.1% of these injuries involving individuals being struck by moving objects [2] . Solutions that work to improve user safety, whilst also increasing efficiency, are clearly needed, which is why the collaboration between Global Gravity’s TubeLock® system and Verton’s lifting beams and load orientation products are such an exciting development for this industry.
Verton has long been associated with providing improvements in safety and productivity through their innovative lifting solutions; the range of tools they offer includes advanced lifting devices (like the Everest 6 and the Everest SpinPod 7.5) which remotely orientate loads into position without the need for taglines, and provide a hands-free lifting solution for a range of different tasks, including pipe handling. The gyroscopes and smart control systems for these lifting devices removes the need for personnel to be near or beneath loads, which is just as important in the challenging conditions onboard offshore platforms and drilling rigs as it is in onshore lifting projects. Verton’s technology, in combination with the ability of the TubeLock® system to reduce pipe handling by 50% and increase deck space on offshore rigs by 60%, will prove incredibly helpful when it comes to improving offshore drilling operational safety and overall efficiency.
When describing the new collaboration between Verton and Global Gravity, Tom Rasmussen, COO of Global Gravity explained that “The industry needs an innovative and strong solution to optimise workflow offshore in order to create safer and more efficient pipe handling, eliminating expensive downtime – this is it".
If you would like to find out more about any of Verton’s Lifting Solutions, or our collaboration with Global Gravity for offshore lifting, please get in touch and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.