DNV GL develops new dynamic verification scheme dashboard

Jan. 8, 2014
DNV GL has developed a highly graphical, web-database-driven verification scheme dashboard to clearly show the offshore risks identified by verification findings and ultimately how they are managed to reduce major accident risks.

Offshore staff

HØVIK, NorwayDNV GL has developed a highly graphical, web-database-driven verification scheme dashboard (VSD) to clearly show the offshore risks identified by verification findings and ultimately how they are managed to reduce major accident risks. The company offers the VSD to its customers as part of its independent verification service.

The VSD gives a “live” summary of all the findings where action is required of the duty holder. The dashboard shows a list of all safety critical elements (SCEs) and the number of findings relating to each SCE. The SCEs are also grouped into barrier types to allow the cumulative risk from related findings to be visible. The tool will be easily expandable to cover the requirements of environmental critical elements as required by the new Offshore Safety Directive in Europe.

Each finding associated with an SCE can be mapped to a specific location on the installation, as shown on the relevant plot plan. This display allows the duty holder to see the potential cumulative effect of these “degraded” SCEs.

Detailed information relating to any of the findings, including customer information (such as performance standards, planned maintenance routines, and piping and instrumentation diagrams), can be viewed by clicking on a category icon on the plot plan or on an isometric graphic.

While a verification scheme is currently a mandat­ory requirement for all offshore oil and gas installations operating, or to be operated, in the UK continental shelf area under the Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 2005, it can also be used worldwide as a means of verifying and demonstrating the safe operation of any offshore fixed or floating installation. The introduction of the newEuropean Union Offshore Safety Directive introduces mandatory requirements for independent verification across Europe, and will increase the demand for an easily managed verification scheme and reporting system such as this one.

The overall objective of the verification scheme is to establish a system of independent and competent scrutiny of safety-critical elements throughout the lifecycle of an installation, and to confirm that applicable performance standards are achieved and maintained.

01/08/2014