ABS, Akselos complete technical assessment of their structural digital twin technology
ABS and Akselos S.A. say they have completed their technical assessment of their structural digital twin technology.
The milestone is said to mark a “significant advancement” in the application of digital twin technology for FPSO units, which the companies say will enable more accurate and reliable assessments of structural integrity.
The companies said that the announcement comes at a “critical” time for the offshore energy industry, since FPSOs are some of the most complex and capital-intensive assets in operation, often required to perform far beyond their original design life. With increasing pressure to improve safety, extend asset life, and reduce costs, operators are looking for better tools to understand and manage the structural health of FPSO units in real time.
The companies say that this data-driven approach can significantly improve operational cashflow by reducing inspection and maintenance costs by up to 33%, minimizing both planned and unplanned downtime, and enhancing safety by limiting human exposure in hazardous operational areas. They also say that this approach can unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in value through extended FPSO life and avoided production losses.
The two companies noted that FPSO vessels are substantial capital assets that often operate in harsh offshore environments while handling highly volatile substances. Therefore, proactive protection of their structural integrity is crucial for maximizing production and ensuring a strong return on investment. Yet, traditional assessment methods, often time-consuming and reliant on simplified models, lack the predictive capabilities needed to optimize operational efficiency and avoid costly downtime and underperformance.
Akselos’ SPM software is said to provide a high-fidelity, near real-time digital twin of the entire FPSO. By combining inspection records, metocean conditions, and cargo operations into one dynamic model, operators are said to be able to gain a live, continuous view of structural performance. This allows for real-time monitoring, identification of stress concentrations, and on-demand fatigue analysis to support data-driven maintenance and risk-based inspections.
When supported by ABS’ Condition Manager and Eagle Twin inspection data management and condition tracking software tools, the combined suite is said to be capable of monitoring real time load and condition information within a digital twin framework that enables full life cycle support of an offshore asset.
The companies say that this technical assessment builds on a long-standing collaboration between Akselos and ABS, including joint digital twin deployments in Brazil’s Cessão Onerosa oil field. Akselos’ SPM software also integrates with ABS’s Eagle Unified suite, providing operators with a unified platform for asset performance management and class compliance.
