Upgrading Rig Lighting System

Challenge

Upgrading emergency lighting on an operational offshore drilling rig presents a series of demanding technical and logistical challenges.

• Meeting Aramco Lighting Standards: The Valaris 250 operates under Saudi Aramco’s stringent safety and lighting standards which includes requirements like Ex certification, emergency back-ups, and fixture protection. Any replacement solution had to meet or exceed these requirements across all rig areas, including critical zones where emergency lighting is mandatory.
• Replacing Legacy Fittings: A lighting survey conducted by AJV highlighted the need to replace outdated legacy fittings with a more efficient lighting solution, improving illumination levels, reducing energy consumption, and supporting compliance with Aramco standards.
• Hazardous Area Compliance: Rig environments contain classified hazardous zones requiring ATEX and IECEx certified luminaires rated for Zone 1 and Zone 2. All replacement products had to carry the appropriate Ex certifications to ensure personnel safety and regulatory compliance.
• Survey Constraints: Carrying out a full lighting survey on an active rig is operationally complex. Access to certain areas is restricted during drilling operations, and the survey had to be completed efficiently to minimise disruption.
• Emergency Lighting Requirements: The rig required a reliable emergency lighting solution, with a significant proportion of luminaires needing integrated back-up capability to maintain safe illumination during power outages and support emergency response requirements.

Solution

AJV carried out a complete lighting survey of the Valaris 250 was across two nights, assessing every area of the rig and identifying where improved illumination could be achieved with fewer fittings. Following the survey, a detailed report was submitted and presented recommendations on how to meet Aramco standards while optimising the lighting layout.

Raytec’s SPARTAN Hazardous Area range was specified as the replacement solution, with Zone 1 and Zone 2 products selected to match the hazardous area classification of each rig zone. Emergency-equipped variants were selected for areas requiring maintained lighting under power failure conditions.

• Meeting Aramco Standards: Raytec’s SPARTAN range is engineered to meet global oil and gas operator standards. The combination of ATEX, and IECEx certifications, together with high lumen output and advanced optics, gave the customer confidence that Aramco’s requirements would be satisfied across every rig area.

• Replacing Legacy Fittings: The SPARTAN Floodlights and Linears deliver high lumen output and excellent efficacy, allowing the customer to reduce the total number of fittings, reducing energy consumption, while achieving much higher levels of illumination.
• Hazardous Area Compliance: All products are fully ATEX and IECEx certified. Zone 1 fittings were installed in the highest-risk classified areas, with Zone 2 fittings used throughout the broader rig environment, ensuring full compliance across the installation.
• Emergency Lighting: The SPARTAN Zone 2 Mid Power Floods and Zone 2 Linear luminaires were supplied with integrated emergency back-up providing maintained output for up to 3 hours, meeting the rig’s emergency preparedness requirements without the need for separate emergency fittings.
• Durability in Offshore Conditions: All SPARTAN luminaires are manufactured from marine-grade aluminium, rated IP66/67, and tested for reliable performance in ambient temperatures up to +55°C. This ensures long-term resilience against the humidity, salinity, and temperature extremes typical of Arabian Gulf offshore environments.

Why Raytec

Raytec was chosen for this project for several reasons.

• Proven Offshore Performance: The SPARTAN range has an established track record in offshore and oil and gas environments globally. Its construction, certification, and performance specifications are well matched to the demands of active drilling rigs operating in extreme conditions.

• High Output, Fewer Fittings: The outstanding performance of the SPARTAN range enabled the customer to achieve the required illumination levels with fewer fittings compared to the previous installation. This reduced installation complexity, lowered energy consumption, and minimised future maintenance requirements.
• Emergency Back-up: Raytec offers emergency versions across its SPARTAN range, allowing a single luminaire to serve both standard and emergency lighting functions. This simplified the specification and reduced the number of individual fittings required.

About AJV Technical Equipment

AJV Technical Equipment is a specialist supplier and solutions provider for hazardous area, explosion-proof, and heavy industrial applications across the GCC and India. AJV represents leading international brands and offers certified solutions for explosion-proof lighting, temporary lighting, portable power distribution, ventilation, cable glands, and customised Ex junction boxes, control stations, and distribution boards.

AJV supports customers in oil and gas, marine, offshore, industrial, and infrastructure sectors, providing approved products, technical support, stock availability, and project-based solutions. AJV is Raytec’s official distributor and stockist for the GCC and India.