The PETRONAS Regional Suitability Mapping (PRSM) project was initiated in 2013 with the aim of optimising operational cost efficiency and minimising potential incidents during jack-up emplacement. This project, which is executed as a Consortium Industry Project with PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd (PCSB) as the anchor, and local as well as international consultants as the consortium members, is currently in Phase 2 with Phase 1 being successfully completed in June 2016 ahead of schedule. This paper is intended to discuss the framework of this project, disseminate the key findings and provide an update on the ongoing activities of PRSM Phase 2.
The PRSM project involves integration and analysis of data from various data sources including geotechnical and geophysical site investigation data. These data, which originate from multiple sources, must first be consolidated into a common database before these data can be meaningfully analysed. This is achieved by leveraging on the capability of Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. Data integration and management are key enablers to fully maximise the value of the site investigation data, which were gathered at significant expense. With the data residing in a structured database, an objective hazard analysis framework can be systematically applied to produce a series of individual hazard maps, which are then consolidated into a composite hazard map. The hazard analysis framework, which is established through engagement and consultation with key stakeholders, is efficiently executed using the geo-processing capability of the GIS software.
At the completion of PRSM Phase 1, more than a thousand regional and site-specific hazard maps have been produced. The pertinent conclusion from various stakeholders is that the PRSM project elevates the visibility of a multitude of hazards potentially affecting jack-up emplacement such that these hazards can be pre-empted and managed at an early phase.
This paper will also discuss the steps taken to overcome the challenges of incorporating legacy data, which are of a different standard and format to those commonly adopted today. In order to maximise the completeness of the database, data from as far back as the 1970s were successfully processed and integrated into the common database.