Kufre Bassey
When offshore and subsea infrastructure operates exactly as it was designed to, it stands a real chance of reaching, or even exceeding, its intended lifespan. But keeping everything within spec is not something that just happens. That is where advanced, measurable monitoring technologies from Ashtead Technology come in, providing customers with insights and assurance that their assets are performing exactly as they should.
Kufre Bassey, Integrity Project Manager at Ashtead Technology based in Houston, brings unrivalled expertise to this domain, serving as the architect of detailed planning, design support and execution of subsea asset inspection initiatives across the globe.
One of the pillars of Ashtead Technology’s asset integrity capability is mooring inspection. “Mooring inspection ensures that chains, anchors and all associated hardware – all of which operate under tension and in harsh conditions – continue to meet classification standards,” explains Kufre. “Our scope includes everything from baseline survey, intermediate and renewal inspections and life-extension evaluations to damage assessments and 3D modelling photogrammetry inspection.”
“When a customer needs expert advice on mooring inspection, we are here to help. Together, we’ll clarify the scope, walk them through the right equipment, break down what each inspection solution can offer and from there, we execute the project from detailed planning, mobilisation to reporting, delivering a clear, detailed analysis that enables our customers to make informed decisions.”
Kufre has developed a strong reputation in the industry because of his involvement in designing and refining proprietary mooring inspection tools, ranging from subsea mechanical calipers to advanced optical calipers. “My approach has always been hands-on,” says Kufre. “I support our engineering team with new product design initiatives as well as refinement of our inspection tools. It is exciting to work on a project from concept through to deployment and it is really rewarding to follow the equipment on its journey offshore. When a customer comes to us with a specific problem, chances are Ashtead Technology already has a ready-made solution waiting, or if not, our team will quickly develop a solution by combining existing technology or creating a bespoke solution to meet the customer need.” Beyond deployment, Kufre plays a central role in data processing and reporting. “The key is turning numbers and visuals into insight – determining the health of the mooring chain and enabling early intervention before failures occur,” explains Kufre. “We analyse the data, compare measurements with design specs and previous inspections, identify corrosion according to design allowance and assess wear, excessive corrosion and elongation. It’s not enough to know what’s happening now, the real value is visualising trends that tell us what’s coming next.”
Back onshore, Kufre will analyse those trends, helping customers make smart decisions about maintenance or replacement. “A huge part of what we do is identifying anomalies early and highlighting the little things that might not look like much at first but can tell you something critical is happening beneath the surface. When we are dealing with such critical components, early identification of potential problems is vital.”
His most fulfilling work? “Put simply, helping customers manage the health of their subsea assets and contributing to the safety of critical offshore elements,” says Kufre. “As an example, on a project in West Africa, our original task was a limited data acquisition scope to enable the client to verify numerical models for an FPSO and SPM mooring system. But after we identified surface pitting on the top chains and preferential corrosion on the lower ones, the scope was expanded to meet re-certification standards. This expanded inspection gave our customer the clarity they needed to confidently opt for top-chain replacement and safely extend the asset’s service life.”
Kufre’s work is not focused on just delivering equipment, it is about empowering customers to understand the health and integrity of their subsea equipment, project by project. “With every project, our goal remains the same, to give our customers clarity, confidence and long-lasting asset integrity.”
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