An image of an FPSO and its topside process, plant and equipment

Offshore Production

Vertech provides a complete range of inspection, integrity management and specialist brownfield project solutions to the offshore oil and production sector. We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, innovative solutions to even the most complex problems. Our inspections allow our clients to meet statutory obligations whilst providing valuable data to evaluate and monitor the condition of production assets as an enabler for effective and efficient maintenance planning. Our brownfield project teams include multidisciplinary, high mobility, IRATA Rope access tradesmen who provide intelligent solutions and best-in-class delivery of technically challenging projects.

Vertech is the leading service provider to the offshore production sector, as proven by long-term contracts for offshore integrity management and repeat engagements by major operators for their most complex projects. These include derrick decommissioning, flare tip replacements, Marine class special surveys, major riser and conductor IRMs, underdeck platform construction & commissioning, subsea tie-back modification projects, FPSO and fixed platform decommissioning.

Fixed Platform (FP)

A fixed platform consists of a jacket (a tall vertical section made of tubular steel members supported by piles driven into the seabed) with a deck placed on top, providing space for

crew quarters, a drilling rig if required, and production facilities. The fixed platform is viewed as economically feasible for installation in water depths up to 1,500 feet.

Asset Integrity Engineering
Jacket & Structural inspection
Pressure system inspection
Remote digital visual inspection
Conventional NDT inspection
Advanced NDT & robotics
Rope Access Maintenance
Brownfield modification
Specialist & Access services
Flare tip maintenance & replacement
Riser and Conductor inspection
ROV Subsea inspection

Floating Production System (FPS)

These are semi-submersible unit(s) which can be equipped with both drilling and production equipment. They are anchored with wire rope and chain or dynamically positioned using rotating thrusters.

Production from the subsea wells is transported to the surface through production risers. The Inpex, Ichthys Explorer, central processing facility (CPF) is the world’s largest semi-submersible production system and the first in Australian waters.

Marine Class Structural inspection
Pressure System Inspection
Remote Digital Visual Inspection
UAV Survey & Inspection
In water UWILD & ROV survey
Conventional NDT inspection
Advanced NDT & robotics
Rope Access Maintenance
Specialist & Access Services
Marine & Integrity Engineering
Crane API Inspections
Confined space entry management
Robotic water ballast tank inspection
Robotic crude oil tank inspection

Floating Production, Storage & Offloading System (FPSO)

FPSOs are large tanker-type vessels moored to the seafloor. They are designed to process and stow production from nearby subsea wells and periodically offload to a smaller shuttle tanker. FPSOs in Australian waters connected to the seabed are under the jurisdiction of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).

Current operating FPSOs in Australian waters include The Okha, Ngujima-Yin, Montara Venture, Pyrenees, Ichthys Venturer, and Ningaloo Vision, with future projects including Barossa, Scarborough Browse, Buffalo (Re-Development), Sunrise, and Crux.

Special survey management & implementation
Pressure System Inspection
Remote Digital Visual Inspection
Class accredited UAV Inspection
In water UWILD & ROV survey
Conventional NDT inspection
Advanced NDT & robotics
Rope Access Maintenance
Crop & renew Surveys
CSE management and rescue
Ballast tank ROV inspection
Crude oil tank robotic inspection
Shutdown and turnaround support
Riser turret mooring inspection & repair

OFFSHORE PRODUCTION SERVICE LINES

Asset Integrity Management

Vertech and our sister company, Sonomatic, provide engineering and operational support for our clients to maximise the production and life of their assets. This is achieved by combining years of integrity experience with specialised engineering, planning, execution, data analytics, statistical methods, and custom software. Our integrity services include high-level strategies through detailed engineering analysis, Risk-based inspection, non-intrusive inspection (NII) inspection and conventional inspection or maintenance planning.

Marine Integrity Management

Vertech Group provides a broad array of engineering and repair capabilities to help our clients manage the integrity of their marine assets. Our team has a wealth of experience working with class accreditation and defence bodies to deliver accredited surveys on a five-year cycle or plan/deliver a Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) marine inspection programme. Our services include high-level strategies, engineering analysis, shipyard marine consultancy, project optimisation, composite wrap engineering and work pack generation to achieve optimal delivery.

Vertech rope access riggers installed a tension netting system to access the risers and conductors on an offshore platform as part of an inspection and remediation campaign.

SPECIALIST ACCESS MANAGEMENT

As a pioneer of rope access in Australia, Vertech’s solutions-based approach drives innovation in rope access and specialist access systems and their management. Whether clients require decking systems, confined space entry, netting systems, scaffolding systems, custom solutions, or rope access, Vertech will assess each scenario and provide the best method or system to meet the deliverables of the scope. Our world-leading IRATA and training centre, custom-built test tanks, and specialist workshops allow us to plan and deliver the best access solution for the job.

The North Rankin Alpha (NRA) Platform derrick being decommissioned by vertech rope access tradesmen. This image illustrates the dual crane lift.

BROWNFIELD PROJECTS

Vertech has consistently delivered excellence on some of the most complex implementation projects in the offshore production sector. Through robust project planning, risk assessment and management, pre-mobilisation mock-up training and highly skilled implementation teams, we have delivered cost, time and safety efficiency to asset modifications, upgrades, decommissioning and specialist remediation projects. Our experience in brownfield projects has seen us build and deliver curated packages such as the V-FLARE flare tip replacement and remediation package and the V-COMM decommissioning package, which have proved time and time again that no challenge is too big.

An image of an offshore flare tip taken from an Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as part of the project planning for a V-LIFT Flare replacement project

UAV & DRONE DIGTAL TWIN

Vertech Group was the first company in Australia to be recognised as an approved service supplier by Lloyd’s Register for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) inspections of classification vessels and structures. We have successfully deployed UAVs on FPSOs, FPS, fixed platforms, LNG, and mining assets across Australia. Our group company, AUAV, were established in 2013 and joined Vertech in 2022 are the only Australian company ranked in the top 20 in the world to provide an unrivalled depth of experience in drone surveying and inspection and also provide clients with digital twins of assets through AUAV’s proprietary data management software; inSite 3D GIS cloud platform.

NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING

One of Vertech’s core service lines and disciplines is the provision of conventional and advanced non-destructive testing (NDT) experience across the offshore production sector and can provide a full range of multi-skilled and accredited NDT technicians to provide services, recommendations, or solutions to ensure compliance with international standards. Vertech Group is certified to ISO 17025 as an NDT inspection body by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA). Our NDT inspection personnel are highly qualified, skilled, and experienced in applying a wide range of conventional and advanced inspection methods to marine structures.

IN-WATER INSPECTION

We have become a leading Mini-remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) in water inspection provider through our subsidiary company, Geo Oceans and JV company, Blue Ocean Marine Services. Backed by a team of industry experts and a suite of cutting-edge software and proprietary hardware solutions, we can deliver our client’s best-in-class remote underwater inspection results. Geo Oceans’ award-winning marine class technology has seen us complete diver-less and unmanned inspections, including UWILDs, ballast tank inspections, in-water surveys, mooring chains, jacket structures, subsea pipeline and riser inspections worldwide, driving significant safety and cost benefits.

MARINE CLASS INSPECTION

Vertech Group provides the most comprehensive array of services in Marine class inspection in Australia. Our teams have safely and successfully delivered marine class inspections on every floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) in Australia and New Zealand and FPSOs in the Asia Pacific, West Africa, GOM, and South America regions. Our IRATA rope access, accredited NDT inspectors, UAV and class-accredited ROV inspections are world-leading in the marine inspection market.

CONFINED SPACE ENTRY & RESCUE

Vertech has provided high-mobility, experienced teams to support and deliver a complete emergency response and confined space entry (CSE) management service for projects, shutdowns and turnarounds across Australia. Our people hold qualifications such as IRATA rope access, confined space entry (CSE), gas test atmosphere, long line breathing apparatus (BA) and advanced first aid certification, leaving our client’s site implementation teams to deliver their shutdown activities with the confidence that they have the best in the industry available to respond in any situation.

Why Get an Offshore Production Package with Vertech?

Cost-Effective Solutions: By utilising rope access techniques, Vertech Group can provide a cost-effective solution for many offshore production services. Rope access minimises the need for scaffolding or other expensive access equipment, resulting in significant cost savings for clients.

Enhanced Safety: Safety is paramount in offshore operations, and Vertech Group is committed to maintaining the highest safety standards. From comprehensive equipment inspections to employing certified rope access technicians, Vertech Group ensures safe operation for all services.

Tailored Packages: Vertech Group offers a range of Offshore Production Services and Packages that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each client. Whether it’s routine maintenance, inspection, or specialised testing, Vertech Group provides customised solutions to optimise WA, NSW, QLD, NT offshore industries and more.

Quality Assurance: Vertech Group is dedicated to providing quality service at every stage of the offshore production process. From initial planning to execution and reporting, Vertech Group ensures that all services are conducted with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail.