Internationalization of Engineering Professions

by N. D. Birrell, Conoco Inc, Houston, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Civil Engineering in the Oceans V

Abstract:

The most salient features impacting the development of our deepwater frontier areas are considered. The areas of higher potential for deepwater reserves are identified. The integrated design process for offshore developments utilizing the design spiral concept is discussed. Methodologies for reaching decisions in a systematic way and that can deal with the choice amongst competing alternatives, while considering a variety of criteria that range from economic and technical feasibility to performance are addressed. Reliability based design methods are identified as a means of rationally designing ocean structures by balancing the consequence of failure against design and construction costs. The internationalization of API standards is discussed and the background of the commitment to convert to reliability based ISO format is given. The impact on the future of engineering in the oceans is examined. It is recognized that economics rather than technology will set the pace and direction for engineering development in the ocean. The major conclusion then is that the challenge to our industry is to accelerate the internationalization process of developing reliability based design standards that show potential to reduce the life cycle costs of offshore development. It also is noted that to regain the technological edge that we once had will require the coordinated efforts of the educational system, the government, private industry, and most importantly, we, the individual engineers that can make it happen.

Subject Headings: Ocean engineering | Structural reliability | Standards and codes | Offshore structures | Structural design | Economic factors | Construction methods

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