Offshore Monitoring

We design and install a range of monitoring systems suitable for FPSO, Semi-submersible and TLP mooring and platform life extension programmes.

While offshore platforms are being continuously pushed beyond their intended design-life, our bespoke monitoring solutions can be retrofitted to provide critical information for safeguarding the integrity of your asset. As offshore assets age, equipment fatigue and the prospect of failures increase and with it the potential for costly platform downtime, hazards to the environment and even risk to human life. Our monitoring systems can be tailored to the specific needs of the customer. Our project management and production teams work closely to provide a turnkey solution which can be installed and commissioned by our field service team. From the initial consultation phase to installation, we are well positioned to respond quality solutions to urgent requirements.

Our systems also play a vital role in the formulation of effective platform management and can be used in isolation or as a combination for real-time monitoring, to generate cost savings, provide long-term assurance and help maintain operational safety.

Our Riser Tension Monitoring System (RTMS)™ has been designed to monitor the tension and performance of the riser in offshore production facilities, to enhance safety and reduce the risk of failures.

RTMS™ provides real-time data on offshore riser loads and is capable of monitoring many measurement channels concurrently to provide a wide variety of analytical capabilities. We have developed a number of configurations to measure riser tensions and designs, manufactures and supplies complete systems from load cellsthrough to display software.

Depending on the particular requirements of the customer and vessel type, we use a variety of methods to obtain riser tensions and inclinations. Configurations include strain gauged load cells mounted at the top of the riser, sensors bolted or clamped to the riser pipes or strain gauges bonded directly to the riser pipe, depending on customer requirements.

We can also supply elements of riser tension monitoring systems, such as load sensors and/or interface electronics that can be integrated into existing monitoring and control systems.

Consolidating engineering information and a variety of key sub-systems, our integrated marine monitoring system (IMMS) optimises the safety and performance of upstream assets and floating offshore wind (FLOW) platforms.

Designed to provide operators with clear and accurate information for both fixed and floating offshore structures, our integrated marine monitoring system (IMMS) plays an integral part in operational safety, enabling the development of informed and effective platform management, inspection and maintenance plans.

Data is collected and reported from a number of key parameters, allowing remedial action to be made if safe working limits are exceeded. The system can also communicate with ballast systems, load management computers and SCADA platform, where required the system can integrate with hull stress monitoring[link to page] and station departure warning systems.

Our Jack-up Rig Leg Monitoring System enables the precise control of jacking operations to improve safety and performance during critical operations.

Our jack-up rig monitoring system accurately monitors the load and tilt of jack-up rig legs during critical rig jacking operations, enabling the precise control of jacking down and the safe rising of the rig to its operational height.

Real-time displays of the angle and the distribution of weight applied to jack-up rig legs allow the exact control of weight distribution through switching of the jacking motors that drive the rig up and down its legs.

Our Jack-up Rig Monitoring System can also combine leg load with motor position, current load and deck tilt monitoring to protect against excessive jacking on one leg which can be damaged due to overloading, or undue bending of the deck causing structural damage. In addition, the system can also provide leg load information in rachet chock configurations.

Sensors can remain in place to permanently monitor leg loads and tilts throughout the life of the structure, so the long-term stability of the rig can be assessed.

Proactively supporting offshore renewables, our dynamic structural monitoring solutions improve operational safety and efficiency. 

Our structural wind energy monitoring systems enable focused remedial work. Saving time and resources, our solutions measure displacement, inclination, lateral erosion, oceanographic changes and component deterioration without the need for regular diver and ROV inspections.

Alarm-linked, real-time data immediately alerts operators to overload situations and to the possibility that structural stability may have been compromised. Improving safety offshore, we provide a full specialist support function that goes far beyond the remit of most other monitoring company capabilities. We have experience and expertise in the provision of structural health monitoring solutions for a wide range of offshore renewable structures, ensuring safe asset operation, risk reduction and cost-effective maintenance programmes.

We have access to a variety of support services, including confined space support, diving and rope access teams and vessel support.

Our systems are designed to incorporate a modular network of data acquisition units (DAUs), sub-units and third-party systems. Each DAU receives multiple inputs from a variety of sensors distributed throughout the turbine foundation structure. The data processing system consists of a number of hardware servers which collect and store data received from the DAUs. The smart asset management system server displays the structural performance of the turbine and real-time monitoring of key predefined parameters, whilst the server will perform post-processing of the collected data.

Our Chain Tension Monitoring System™(CTMS) provides real-time data on anchor and hawser load tensions for all types of offshore structures, including turret and conventional spread-moored installations.

From basic stand-alone mooring load monitoring to comprehensive, integrated systems which monitor vessel draft, ballast, Metocean conditions, vessel loading and structural stress, we offer bespoke mooring monitoring solutions to suit specific customer requirements.

Our CTMS™ systems are capable of monitoring multiple channels simultaneously, and provide a broad selection of archiving and analytical capabilities. The systems provide real-time data giving accurate indication of mooring loads to ensure they are not overloaded and stay within safe limits, with alarms to alert operators should tensions exceed pre-set limits.

Where applicable, direct load measurement is accomplished using specially designed load pins with hazardous area and subsea ratings as required. Manufactured from high-tensile stainless steel, and with dual bridge options, they have a design life of over 25 years and are installed in anchor legs using custom connection hardware.

Systems can be configured to interface directly with other onboard monitoring and control systems and can include:

• In-line (direct) measurement
• Bolt-on subsea sensors
• Inclination, trim and heel
• Custom monitoring software
• Systems integration
• Alarms and warnings

Catenary moorings:
Departure angles can be measured using high-precision inclinometers enclosed in ruggedised subsea housings. Inclinometers can be used on internal or external turrets to determine the chain angle, which when combined with position and draft data, determines chain tension.

Chain stoppers:
Our strain rings provide exceptional sensitivity and can be used to monitor the chain tension in certain chain stopper designs. They can also be applied without unloading the mooring tension.

We recently supplied patented strain rings to Petrofac:

“BES Asset Reliability, formerly Strainstall, were not only diligent, responsive and professional throughout our collaboration, but went above and beyond to overcome a host of technical challenges, ultimately ensuring that the project was delivered against the a demanding timeline.”
Ross Sutherland, Maintenance and integrity superintendent at Petrofac