DNV introduces steel forgings RP to increase subsea standardization
Steel forgings are important building blocks for subsea components and are often tailored to meet end-users’ specific requirements. This results in long delivery times and repeated follow-ups throughout the supply chain. DNV GL’s new Recommended Practice (RP) “Steel Forgings for Subsea Applications” harmonizes these requirements. The organization believes that implementation of the RP will enable reduced lead times, enhanced stock keeping, interchangeability of forgings and help to improve and maintain consistent quality. “Unifying requirements for forgings into an acceptable common specification is an important step in the work we are doing together with the industry to increase subsea standardization,” Bjørn Søgård, Segment Director Subsea with DNV GL, said.
The standardization of steel forgings was targeted as a high-priority initiative in a report issued by the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association in 2014 and highlighted by SPE. The RP (DNVGL-RP-0034) has been developed through a joint industry project (JIP) involving 21 companies, representing steel manufacturers, subsea contractors and oil & gas companies. It contains requirements for qualification, manufacturing and testing, and complements existing industry codes for subsea equipment.
“We are pleased that this initiative, which has involved all players in the value chain, from forgemasters to subsea suppliers to end users, has produced a document that captures best practice and now enables the manufacture of forgings in a predictable and consistent way,” David Llewelyn of the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association said.
To support the efficient implementation of the RP and to further strengthen the standardization work and quality processes established in phase one, a second phase of the JIP is being planned and is still open for industry participants to join.
Click here to view or download the Recommended Practice.
