Qatar's Ruya offshore project clears Phase 1 Quality Inspection

The Ruya offshore project is operated by North Oil Company (NOC), a joint venture between QatarEnergy and TotalEnergies, and forms an integral component of the Al Shaheen Oil Field expansion program. As one of Qatar’s primary offshore hydrocarbon assets, Al Shaheen contributes more than 50% of national crude oil production and is a key element of Qatar’s long-term upstream capacity expansion strategy under Qatar National Vision 2030.
 

Offshore pipeline inspection, QA/QC, and NDT scope for EPCI Package 09

Applus+ is supporting the project under a long-term strategic cooperation framework with China National Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. (COOEC). A dedicated, multidisciplinary inspection team was mobilized to carry out supplier qualification audits, followed by in-process and final inspections throughout the manufacturing cycle. The inspection scope encompassed subsea welded line pipe, seamless pipe, induction hot-bent pipe sections, forged flanges, external and internal coatings, power and communication cables, and fiber-optic termination enclosures. Manufacturing third-party inspections were conducted at production facilities across China and multiple European countries, including Germany, France, and Norway.

Due to the severe operational requirements of the offshore environment, project materials were designed to withstand internal pressures up to 15.2 MPa, operating temperatures of 80°C, and prolonged exposure to highly saline and corrosive marine conditions. Applus+ applied internationally recognized non-destructive testing (NDT) methodologies, dimensional verification, and precision monitoring systems to ensure full compliance with applicable international codes and project specifications. In parallel, a localized corrosion protection coating system jointly developed by Applus+ and COOEC achieved international certification, validating its suitability for long-term offshore service.
 

Offshore installation support, quality performance metrics, and future pipeline phases

Inspection activities were executed within a congested offshore operating environment characterized by dense existing infrastructure and more than 700 identified interference nodes. Through the integration of global technical expertise and localized execution capability, Applus+ delivered near real-time inspection data and implemented optimized quality control workflows. These measures supported offshore installation operations by enabling the main construction vessel, Haiyang Shiyou 201, to achieve centimeter-level dynamic positioning accuracy and contributed to a welding procedure qualification success rate exceeding 98.3%.

According to Applus+ project management, the Ruya project represents a reference case for offshore quality assurance implementation. Subsea pipeline inspection methodologies and best practices derived from projects in Singapore and the Middle East were combined with the execution capacity of Applus+ Chinese inspection teams, ensuring uniform quality standards across materials manufactured in multiple countries.

Project delivery has been supported through coordinated collaboration between Applus+ operational teams in China, Qatar, and the Netherlands. This integrated, cross-regional approach has enabled continuous inspection coverage and consistent quality assurance throughout all project phases.

With Phase 1 now transitioning into offshore installation activities—covering 41 subsea pipelines and nine composite cables—preparation for Phase 2 is already underway. The upcoming stage will include the installation of an additional 20 subsea pipelines. Building on experience gained during Phase 1, Applus+ is further refining inspection strategies and expanding the deployment of intelligent inspection and digital monitoring technologies to improve efficiency and reliability under complex offshore construction conditions.

The Ruya offshore development underscores the importance of international collaboration in large-scale offshore engineering projects and highlights Applus+ capability to deliver technically robust, compliant, and reliable quality assurance solutions for complex international energy infrastructure.