This presentation covers some of the key points and lessons learned from the implementation of a 1300km long submarine cable system in the Gulf of Thailand. • The driver for the project was to improve offshore communications (based on performance, reliability and security) by means of a fiber optic cable network. • The Oil and Gas Companies chose to select a carrier model rather than take ownership of the subsea system

1. CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a
Subsea Cable System
PTC’14
Jerry Brown
Ocean Specialists Inc.
Technical Manager – Subsea
Bangkok

2. 2CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
• This presentation covers some of
the key points and lessons learned
from the implementation of a 1300km
long submarine cable system in the
Gulf of Thailand.
• The driver for the project was to
improve offshore communications
(based on performance, reliability and
security) by means of a fiber optic
cable network.
• The Oil and Gas Companies chose
to select a carrier model rather than
take ownership of the subsea system

3. 3CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
• Oil & Gas Fields are busy areas, with regular crew boat services, supply vessel
operations, helicopter flights etc. with platforms, subsea assets & other obstacles
• Restrictions on vessels entering the Oil & Gas Field.
• Vessels and the personnel onboard have to comply with Oil Company Marine
standards, rules and requirements.
• Restrictions on operations / activities & equipment –
●
What operations can commence / equipment can be used
●
Where operations can commence / equipment can be over-boarded and
landed on the seabed
●
Why operations are planned in detail and procedures are approved in
advance.
●
When equipment can be used (daylight working / 24 hour working) and
impact on other operations (SIMOPS reviews).

4. 4CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
• Oil & Gas Companies have a huge Influence on the project marine operations -
• Regular monthly project review meetings with all contractors, sub-contractors,
suppliers and installers.
• The complex project activities were broken down into smaller logical work
packages.
* Field entry - Vessel selection and acceptance
* Where the cable is located - Cable Route design
* Cable protection strategy
* Crossing Agreements
* Platform preparation for cable pull-in
* Pre-rigging procedures for each platform
* Site specific Last Mile Cable Installation Procedures
* Main Lay Cable Procedures –
Grapnel operations,
Plough operations,
Buoy Off and
ROV burial procedures.

5. 5CONFIDENTIAL
Oil Companies have requirements for all operations involving deployment of
subsea cable, plant and equipment within Oil Fields and OCBs

6. 6CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
Typical Oil & Gas Company key project team -
• Project Manager
• Full Time Subject Matter Expert (SME) – knowledge of subsea cable,
plant and marine installation equipment and vessels.
• Logistics co-ordinator - to provide central point of contact for all aviation
and sea transfers of materials and personnel. All offshore accommodation
bookings with Asset Managers.
• Dedicated Health and Safety specialist – training workshop and HA/JSA
review.
• Marine / Geomatics Expert to assist with cable route design, marine
safety and future expansions.
• Facilities Engineering to ensure platform structure (J-Tubes,
Communications Room, Topside cable runs, interface OJB etc) prepared to
meet project timescales.

7. 7CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
• Clear division of responsibilities
• Oil & Gas Company responsible for
J-Tube construction & installation, Topside
Fiber Optic cabling and supports from
Optical Junction Box to the Equipment
Room. Also for Power Supply with UPS
within equipment room and mounting
supports for terminal equipment racks.
Logistics covering transportation of
personnel and equipment to platform,
accommodation and storage space on
platform during construction and service
periods, meals on platform.
• Contractor is responsible for all subsea
cable works, cable pull-in operations on
the platform, cable hang-off at J-Tube and
cable routing to Optical Junction Box and
completion of optical subsea to topside
cable joint.

8. 8CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
• Presentation material prepared to engage with each stake holder group
* Health & Safety
* Facilities Engineering
* Aviation Services
* Marine Department & Marine Control
* Asset Planners
* Offshore Installation Managers OIMs
• Information distributed to office and offshore staff in good time, explaining
WHAT, WHY, WHERE & WHEN … activities would occur
• Seeking assistance and support when required
• Resulting in EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, TEAMWORK.

9. 9CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
Documentation Reviews -
• Marine Installer is required to produce
detailed vessel specific / project specific
documentation and operational procedures.
• The procedures are developed to enable
incident free operations.
• Extremely important when working on or
close to platforms or in close proximity to
subsea assets.
• Review of procedures by Oil & Gas
Company can involve several departments
and take considerable time.
• May take several review cycles before the
documentation is approved by Oil & Gas
Company.

10. 10CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
• Site specific / vessel specific operational procedures were
developed, reviewed and approved before commencing any
work – the main driver being to prevent incidents.
• Detailed procedures are developed to cover –
Burial by cable plough
Buoy deployment operations
Grapnel operations
Emergency procedures for Tug support
Pipeline Crossing operations
Deployment of flexible mattresses
• Vessels were identified for specific tasks within the field,
and DP audits, inspections and follow ups on all ships
working within the OCB. Successful inspections were
performed to ensure ships were qualified to the standard
required by the Oil Companies International Marine Forum
(OCIMF).
• The procedures covering preparation works on the
platforms completed 6 review cycles before they were
agreed by all parties. This contributed to the safe and
incident free deployment of the cable onto the platforms.

11. 11CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
• Many tasks involving physical work on the
platforms were required during the initial platform
survey, equipment mobilisation and rigging
activities, cable deployment phase and finally
equipment de-mobilisation and making good any
damage.
• These activities have the potential to affect other
platform operations and so involved careful
preparation, planning, communication and control
at all times.
• The preparation, planning and communication of
activities was aided by the generation of detailed
procedures which were used to evaluate and
assess risks through the Hazard Analysis and Job
Safety Analysis (HA/JSA) process.
• The mitigation measures identified were
rigorously enforced and documentation used to
support Permit to Work (PTW) applications on the
platform.

12. 12CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
Teamwork / Co-operation -
• During the As-Built J-Tube Installation QC
checks, some errors in the J-Tube heading
were identified at the last moment, just a few
weeks before cable deployment and when
procedures were almost complete.
• On 2 platforms the J-Tube heading
mis-aligned with the planned cable route
heading. The marine installer was very
proactive and assisted the Oil & Gas project
team to find workable solutions, which did not
require rework of the J-Tube orientation, which
would have caused significant delays.
• The vessel position for the cable pull-in
operation was adjusted to minimise the
mis-alignment.
• The mitigation measures taken resulted in
incident free cable pull-in operations.

13. 13CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
Spares held on Cable Ship -
• During operations some delays were incurred due to
broken equipment.
• As there were no spares onboard and operations had
to be delayed until replacement parts were shipped to
site.
• Service provider / Marine Installer to ensure sufficient
spares are held for critical equipment such as ROV,
survey system, plough etc.
• Prior to operations QC checks on equipment
condition and to identify critical single source items.
These QC checks should be completed as well in
advance of operations as possible so that long lead
time spares can be located and shipped to site.

14. 14CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
• As the Oil & Gas Company had adopted
a carrier level approach as opposed to a
direct purchase of a submarine cable
system, their influence over the control and
avoidance of project delays was
somewhat limited.
• An accurate project schedule is important
to the logistics process of ensuring the
correct equipment and personnel were
available on the correct platforms, without
impacting other platform operations.
• Consideration should be given to
identifying specific milestones against a
deliverables timeline.
• To ensure a strong commitment to
maintaining the agreed timeline between all
parties penalty clauses should be agreed.

15. 15CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
• Effective communications result in a well informed workforce.
• The inclusion of all parties in regular meetings ensures co-ordination,
understanding and commitment.
• Key messages were delivered to all relevant parties simultaneously so that these
could be discussed and clarified if required.
• The monthly meetings provided a forum for the regular review and discussion of
the overall project plan and Marine POW, progress, deliverables and issues.
• Operationally, the Kick Off meetings held on each platform was essential to ensure
co-ordination between vessel and platform staff. The regular use of HA/JSAs and
tool box talks at each stage of the operation was critical to successful operations.

16. 16CONFIDENTIAL
Connecting Offshore Platforms to a Subsea Cable System
• Some Conclusions –
• Oil & Gas Companies expect to be provided with detailed documentation to explain
the WHAT, WHERE, WHY, WHEN type questions.
• All operations have to be planned, reviewed and implemented SAFELY.
• If any changes are necessary a Management of Change record is generated &
approved before operations can proceed.
• The system of controlling activities works with no injuries or incidents.

17. 17CONFIDENTIAL
Conclusion