A digital twinning and smart data asset management tool from Bureau Veritas, a world leader in testing, inspection and certification services, can save between 9 per cent and 15 per cent on total decommissioning project costs, research has revealed.

Data from the company, which it shared with the UK’s industry regulator the Oil and Gas Authority, shows the Veristar AIM3D system could save operators in excess of £2 million ($2.47 million) on project costs for assets with topsides of 10,000 tonnes, increasing to more than £8.5 million (10.51 million) for assets with topsides up to 40,000 tonnes.

Veristar AIM3D, which was developed in partnership with Dassault Systèmes has revolutionised asset management, providing a true, as is, four-dimensional picture of an asset’s condition instantly, everywhere on any platform or device, at any time. It combines a digital twin of any marine or offshore asset with smart data, allowing operators to make the right choices to improve efficiency, safety, integrity, performance, return on investment and carbon footprint reduction.

Providing a mirror image of an asset, the system improves work scope definition, proposal quality and execution efficiency while lowering costs. Increased visibility assists risk mitigation and safety with potential for reduced insurance premiums. Bureau Veritas estimates savings from 9 per cent to more than 30 per cent can be made from a range of decommissioning activities including topsides and jacket removal, subsea infrastructure, facilities de-energising, onshore recycling and site remediation and monitoring to deliver direct savings on total project costs.

The company has identified 54 North Sea assets with topsides of 10,000 tonnes to 40,000 tonnes that would benefit from using Veristar AIM3D to gain direct savings in decommissioning. It has also identified 35 assets of fewer than 10,000 tonnes that would benefit in late life operations through to decommissioning phases.

Dawn Robertson, Global Business Development Manager said: “The importance of Veristar AIM3D in cutting maintenance costs, maintaining safety and performance and extending asset life is well established, but now we can quantify the benefits it brings to decommissioning.”