Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area Petroleum Operations Framework Regulations (SOR/2024-25)

Marginal note:Station-keeping

146 An operator must ensure that a floating platform is equipped with a mooring system or a dynamic positioning system to ensure station-keeping of the platform within its operating limits.

Marginal note:Mooring system

• 147 (1) An operator must ensure that a mooring system with which a floating platform is equipped is designed, on the basis of analysis and model testing, to ensure

  • (a) safety and the protection of the environment;

  • (b) the stability and serviceability of the floating platform;

  • (c) the integrity and serviceability of the mooring system components, including any related topside equipment;

  • (d) the integrity and serviceability of drilling risers, production risers, export risers or any other type of riser;

  • (e) the necessary redundancy of the mooring system components to enable the floating platform to maintain its position with the loss of a single component or, for a thruster-assisted mooring system, the loss of the most effective thruster or a single failure in the power or control system;

  • (f) for a thruster-assisted mooring system, the ability of the floating platform to withstand extreme meteorological conditions in the event of a power failure;

  • (g) the ability of the floating platform to move from its position to avoid accidental events that it is not designed to withstand; and

  • (h) safe access and safe clearances with respect to subsea and surface components of the installation, any nearby installations, support vessels and evacuation systems.

• Marginal note:Excursion limits

  (2) The operator must ensure that the excursion limits of a floating platform that is equipped with a mooring system are established on the basis of the analysis and model testing referred to in subsection (1).

• Marginal note:Loss of station-keeping or failure

  (3) The operator must ensure that the floating platform has systems and processes to continuously detect loss of station-keeping or the failure of any mooring system component.

• Marginal note:Monitoring

  (4) The operator must ensure that mooring line tensions or other indicators of the integrity of the mooring system are monitored and kept within the mooring system’s operating limits.

• Marginal note:Measures

  (5) The operator must ensure that measures to ensure that the mooring system continues to perform in accordance with its design specifications are implemented, including

  • (a) the assessment of the system’s condition, periodically and if it is damaged or if damage to it is suspected; and

  • (b) the making of arrangements for timely repair or replacement in the event of damage or deterioration.

Marginal note:Disconnectable mooring system

• 148 (1) If the mooring system with which a floating platform is equipped is disconnectable, the operator must ensure that the system is designed to ensure that disconnection can be accomplished in a controlled manner without creating a risk of drift-off.

• Marginal note:Safety plan

  (2) The operator must ensure that the disconnectable mooring system is designed and maintained in accordance with the measures referred to in clause 9(2)(b)(vi)(D) that are described in the operator’s safety plan.

• Marginal note:Primary and backup systems

  (3) The operator must ensure that the disconnectable mooring system includes a primary system and a backup system for disconnection, both of which can be operated locally or from a remote location.

• Marginal note:Floating platform capability

  (4) The operator must ensure that a floating platform that is equipped with a disconnectable mooring system is capable of

  • (a) safely manoeuvering away under its own power; and

  • (b) maintaining a safe position and heading while disconnected.

• Marginal note:Criteria and procedures for disconnection

  (5) The operator must ensure that criteria and procedures for disconnection are developed for all credible disconnection scenarios, including procedures for monitoring environmental conditions and providing alerts for worsening conditions that may require disconnection.

• Marginal note:Disconnection and reconnection

  (6) The operator must ensure that the disconnectable mooring system

  • (a) is capable of carrying out a planned disconnection after allowing time for the depressurization and flushing of subsea flowlines;

  • (b) is capable of carrying out an emergency disconnection after allowing time to safely shut in wells and subsea equipment;

  • (c) allows for the reconnection to the floating platform of the system and flowlines in an orderly sequence, in the physical and environmental conditions described in the operations manual under paragraph 157(2)(c); and

  • (d) allows for the resumption of production after the system and flowlines have been reconnected to the floating platform following a planned disconnection;

• Marginal note:Periodic verification of disconnection capability

  (7) The operator must periodically verify the disconnect capability of the disconnectable mooring system and must record the findings resulting from the verification.

• Marginal note:Excursion limits exceeded

  (8) The operator must ensure that the emergency disconnection referred to in paragraph (6)(b) is initiated if the floating platform exceeds the excursion limits established under subsection 147(2).

Marginal note:Dynamic positioning system

• 149 (1) An operator must ensure that the design of a dynamic positioning system with which a floating platform is equipped

  • (a) is based on numerical analysis and model testing to ensure that the floating platform’s position reference and directional control can be maintained within specified tolerances that satisfy design operational requirements in relation to all functional and environmental loads to which the system may be subjected at the floating platform’s intended location;

  • (b) is based on a failure modes and effects analysis to ensure the segregation and redundancy of safety-critical systems and their components as necessary to maintain the platform’s position in the event that credible scenarios of equipment failure are realized;

  • (c) allows the dynamic positioning system to withstand the loss from fire or flooding of all of its components situated in any one watertight compartment or fire subdivision of the floating platform; and

  • (d) includes systems to monitor the parameters of operability and integrity of the critical systems of the dynamic positioning system and to provide alerts for critical system faults.

• Marginal note:Excursion limits

  (2) The operator must ensure that the excursion limits of a floating platform that is equipped with a dynamic positioning system are established based on the numerical analysis and model testing referred to in paragraph (1)(a).

Marginal note:Disconnect system

• 150 (1) An operator must ensure that a floating platform that is equipped with a dynamic positioning system has a disconnect system that

  • (a) is capable of carrying out a planned disconnection of the floating platform from the seabed after allowing time to prepare the risers and subsea flowlines for the disconnection;

  • (b) is capable of carrying out an emergency disconnection after allowing time to safely shut in wells and subsea equipment; and

  • (c) allows for reconnection in an orderly sequence, in the physical and environmental conditions described in the operations manual under paragraph 157(2)(c).

• Marginal note:Demonstration

  (2) The operator must periodically demonstrate by means of a trial or performance test that the disconnect system meets the requirements under subsection (1).

• Marginal note:Excursion limits exceeded

  (3) The operator must ensure that the emergency disconnection referred to in paragraph (1)(b) is initiated if the floating platform exceeds the excursion limits established under subsection 149(2).

Marginal note:Decisions and exemptions

151 For any floating platform that is registered outside Canada, the operator must

• (a) establish a list of all flag State administration decisions and exemptions that apply to the floating platform in relation to any standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization;

• (b) conduct a risk assessment to identify measures to reduce the safety and environmental risks in relation to those decisions and exemptions to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable; and

• (c) establish an action plan to implement the measures referred to in paragraph (b).

Marginal note:Gap analysis

152 The operator must, every time the MODU Code is updated,

• (a) undertake a gap analysis between the criteria in the updated version and the version that applies to the floating platform based on its date of construction;

• (b) conduct a risk assessment in relation to any gaps identified; and

• (c) ensure that mitigation measures are implemented, as necessary.

Asset Integrity

Marginal note:Requirements

153 An operator must ensure that all installations, including their systems and equipment, are inspected, monitored, tested, maintained and operated to

• (a) ensure safety, the protection of the environment and the prevention of waste; and

• (b) ensure that they continue to perform in accordance with their design specifications under the operating conditions and maximum loads to which they may be subjected.