Search for a command to run...
Ageing offshore assets often require hot work to repair perforations, a process that is resource-intensive, hazardous, and in certain circumstances, requires a platform shut down. What if there is an alternative to repair the structural perforations with a design life of at least 10 years? How do composites work in the context of structural repairs such as an I-beam? Utilising design principles from academic sources covered in section 2 and with the lessons learned from the pilot project in section 3, this paper introduces composite materials as a permanent, fit-for-purpose alternative for structural repairs with a design life of at least 10 years. The paper also aims to contribute to efforts for incorporating structural repair into industrial standards. In the aerospace industry, one is continuously looking for ways to lower the overall mass of the aircraft without decreasing the stiffness and strength of its component. This is primarily done by replacing steel alloys with composites. Even if the material cost is higher, the reduction in the number of parts in an assembly and the savings in fuel costs make them more profitable. This paper argues that there is such parallel use case for offshore structures. For ageing offshore structures, structural hot work is one of the scopes that take up a lot of resources as it introduces risks to personnel due to open flames, sparks and heat it generates. In certain cases, depending on hot work risk assessment, the repair may also require shut down due to the tight location as it is not feasible to erect a habitat. Example of such scenario is shown in Figure 1.1.