What are the most effective subsea control system risk mitigation strategies and tools?

1 Risk identification and assessment

The first step in risk mitigation is to identify and assess the possible sources and scenarios of subsea control system risks. This involves collecting and analyzing data, such as design specifications, operational records, inspection reports, environmental conditions, and industry standards, to evaluate the likelihood and severity of each risk. You can use various methods and tools, such as hazard and operability studies (HAZOP), failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), fault tree analysis (FTA), and risk matrices, to perform risk identification and assessment. These methods and tools help you to identify the causes, effects, and mitigations of subsea control system risks and prioritize them according to their significance.

2 Risk reduction and prevention

The second step in risk mitigation is to reduce and prevent the occurrence of subsea control system risks. This involves implementing design, engineering, operational, and maintenance measures that aim to eliminate or minimize the probability and impact of each risk. You can use various methods and tools, such as reliability engineering, redundancy, diversity, fault tolerance, safety instrumented systems (SIS), alarms, and interlocks, to perform risk reduction and prevention. These methods and tools help you to enhance the functionality, availability, and integrity of subsea control system components and functions and prevent or limit the escalation of subsea control system incidents.

3 Risk detection and monitoring

The third step in risk mitigation is to detect and monitor the presence and status of subsea control system risks. This involves installing and using sensors, instruments, devices, and software that provide real-time or periodic information on the performance and condition of subsea control system components and functions. You can use various methods and tools, such as subsea control modules (SCM), umbilicals, hydraulic flying leads (HFL), electrical flying leads (EFL), fiber optic cables, acoustic telemetry, remote operated vehicles (ROV), and data acquisition and analysis systems, to perform risk detection and monitoring. These methods and tools help you to identify and quantify any deviations, anomalies, or failures in subsea control system parameters and operations and alert you to any potential or actual subsea control system incidents.

4 Risk response and recovery

The fourth step in risk mitigation is to respond and recover from subsea control system incidents. This involves activating and executing contingency plans, procedures, and actions that aim to restore or maintain the functionality and safety of subsea control system components and functions. You can use various methods and tools, such as emergency shutdown systems (ESD), blowout preventers (BOP), isolation valves, chemical injection systems, subsea intervention systems, repair and replacement systems, and incident investigation and reporting systems, to perform risk response and recovery. These methods and tools help you to isolate, control, or stop the flow of fluids, pressure, or temperature in subsea control system components and functions and repair or replace any damaged or defective subsea control system components and functions.

5 Risk communication and reporting

The fifth step in risk mitigation is to communicate and report on subsea control system risks and incidents. This involves sharing and exchanging information, data, feedback, and lessons learned among relevant stakeholders, such as operators, contractors, regulators, customers, and suppliers, regarding the identification, assessment, reduction, prevention, detection, monitoring, response, and recovery of subsea control system risks and incidents. You can use various methods and tools, such as risk registers, dashboards, reports, audits, reviews, meetings, workshops, and training sessions, to perform risk communication and reporting. These methods and tools help you to inform, educate, consult, and collaborate with stakeholders on subsea control system risks and incidents and improve the risk management culture and performance.

6 Risk evaluation and improvement

The sixth step in risk mitigation is to evaluate and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of subsea control system risk management. This involves measuring and analyzing the results, outcomes, and impacts of subsea control system risk management activities and processes and identifying and implementing opportunities for improvement. You can use various methods and tools, such as key performance indicators (KPI), benchmarks, best practices, standards, guidelines, and feedback loops, to perform risk evaluation and improvement. These methods and tools help you to assess and compare the performance and compliance of subsea control system risk management against the objectives, requirements, and expectations of stakeholders and enhance the quality and value of subsea control system risk management.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?