Structural integrity

The structural integrity of offshore installations underpins the safety of all offshore workers. All the surface equipment and processes are mounted on large towers (mainly of a lattice nature) most of which are underwater and are pinned to the seabed. Other floating structures also are used. The surface equipment (including accommodation) is housed in large structures which sit on these towers.

The structural integrity has to be designed to withstand:

• large waves (in excess of 25m in the northern North Sea)
• impact from vessels
• earthquakes.

Structural integrity must be maintained throughout the lifetime of the installation by an appropriate management system of inspection, analysis and repair. The relevant legislation is the Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction, etc) Regulations (DCR) (SI 1996/913), and the Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 2005 (SCR) (SI 2005/3117)

These topic pages are structured as follows:.

• Structural integrity strategy
  Sets out the OSD five-year strategy (2008-2013) in relation to the major hazards threat to the safety of offshore installations from loss of structural integrity.
• Intervention programmes
  This sets out structural integrity inspection interventions. They are prioritised according to technical aspects.
• HSE guidance and technical standards
  This section provides relevant information on technical standards  - mainly  ISO/TC 67/SC7 'Offshore structures for the petroleum and natural gas industries’; and guidance published by HSE.
• Stakeholders
  A wide number of relevant stakeholders are used to influence structural integrity matters, including technical and standards making bodies, industry bodies and scientific and technical groups, other Regulators, and the offshore workforce. These are set out here.
• Research and Development
  This sets out research and development projects including ongoing and historical projects, sorted by technical area.