Welcome to NEXUS - Let's Cut Through the Overwhelm

Here's the truth: When you first open NEXUS, you'll see screens full of buttons, menus, panes, grids, and options. It's overwhelming. Hundreds of features staring at you.

Here's what you actually need: For your first inspection job, you need to know about 5 things. That's it.

What Is NEXUS?

NEXUS IC (Integrity Client) is inspection management software used by major offshore operators and clients like:

• TechnipFMC
• Subsea7
• Shell
• BP
• Equinor
• And many others

What it does: NEXUS manages the entire lifecycle of subsea asset inspections:

• Asset hierarchies (what exists where)
• Inspection planning (what needs inspecting when)
• Data collection (recording inspection results)
• Anomaly tracking (defects and their remediation)
• Risk assessment (integrity scoring)
• Reporting (client deliverables)

Why Clients Use NEXUS

Instead of: Spreadsheets, Word docs, emails flying everywhere, data lost, inconsistent formats

NEXUS provides:

• Single source of truth - All inspection data in one place
• Historical tracking - See what was found on this asset 5 years ago
• Standardized data - Everyone records the same way
• Traceability - Who inspected what, when, and what they found
• Automated reporting - Generate client reports with one click
• Risk-based planning - Prioritize inspections based on asset condition

Understanding the Inspection Data Chain

You're not working in isolation. Your NEXUS data flows through a chain of people and purposes:

What Makes Good Inspection Data?

Good data is:

• Accurate - Measurements are correct, descriptions match reality
• Complete - All required fields filled, photos attached, measurements recorded
• Timely - Entered during/immediately after inspection while fresh
• Clear - Someone reading it 5 years later understands what you found
• Consistent - Uses standard terminology and classifications

Bad data is:

• Vague: "some damage noted" (what kind? where? how severe?)
• Incomplete: Missing photos or measurements
• Late: Entered days later from memory (details forgotten)
• Inconsistent: Using non-standard terminology

The 5 Core Concepts You Must Understand

Everything in NEXUS revolves around these 5 concepts. Master these, and the rest makes sense:

How They Connect

Additional Terms You'll Encounter

Understanding Your Workpack

When you arrive on the vessel, the client rep will assign you a workpack. This is your job package - everything you need to complete your inspections.

What's Inside a Workpack?

A workpack contains:

• Tasks list - What you need to inspect
• Asset information - Details about each item
• Previous inspection data - Historical context
• Drawings/schematics - Visual references
• Instructions - Specific requirements from client

Reading Your Task List

Each task tells you:

• Asset - What to inspect (e.g., "Manifold M001")
• Event Type - How to inspect it (e.g., "GVI", "UT", "ACFM")
• Location - Where it is (KP, coordinates, or description)
• Instructions - Specific requirements ("Focus on weld areas", "Check all anodes")
• Status - Complete or incomplete

Pre-Job Preparation (What to Do BEFORE the ROV Launches)

1. Review the workpack task list
   Know what you're inspecting and in what order
2. Look at the assets
   Check asset information - what is it? What's it made of? When was it installed?
3. Review previous inspections
   What was found last time? Are there known issues to monitor?
4. Study drawings/schematics
   Orient yourself - where are the anodes? Where are critical welds?
5. Read task instructions carefully
   Client may have specific requirements or areas of concern

Your First Inspection - Complete Workflow

Let's walk through a real scenario from start to finish:

Phase 1: Pre-Inspection (Before ROV Launch)

1. Open NEXUS and navigate to WORKPACKS
   Find your workpack: "2024-Q1-Subsea"
2. Select the workpack
   Tasks pane appears at bottom showing your 3 tasks
3. Click on Task #1: "GVI Manifold XYZ-M001"
   Review task details, instructions, asset information
4. Go to INSPECTION screen
   Navigate asset tree to find "XYZ-M001"
5. Review historical data
   Check previous GVI events - what was found before?
6. Open drawings/schematics
   Orient yourself to the manifold layout

Phase 2: During Inspection (ROV in Water)

What you're doing during the actual inspection:

Taking detailed notes:

• Paper notebook or clipboard with forms
• Note every observation with timestamps
• Record locations (compass directions, measurements from reference points)
• Sketch quick diagrams if helpful
• Log video timestamps for key findings
• Record measurements as taken

Real-time data entry (if time permits):

• Some inspectors enter data into desktop NEXUS during inspection
• Requires good multitasking and familiarity with system
• Only feasible if not primary ROV/dive supervisor
• More common: focus on inspection, enter data afterward

Phase 3: Recording the Inspection (Creating the Event)

1. Go to INSPECTION screen
   Select the asset "XYZ-M001" in the asset tree
2. Go to Events pane (bottom right)
   This is where you'll create the inspection event
3. Click "Add Event"
   A dialog opens to create new event
4. Fill in Event Details:
   • Event Type: GVI
   • Date: Today's date
   • Inspector: Your name
   • Task: Select "Task #1: GVI Manifold XYZ-M001"
   • Duration: How long it took
   • Notes: General observations
5. Save the Event
   Now you have a GVI event record linked to your task

Phase 4: Adding Findings

If you found something during inspection:

1. With your event selected, go to Findings pane
   Usually below or next to the Events pane
2. Click "Add Finding"
   A finding dialog opens
3. Describe what you found:
   • Finding Type: Corrosion / Damage / Wear / Marine Growth / etc.
   • Location: "NE corner flange"
   • Description: Clear, detailed description
   • Dimensions: Length, width, depth (if applicable)
   • Severity: Minor / Moderate / Severe
   • Photos: Attach images
4. Repeat for each finding
   One finding record per distinct issue

Phase 5: Photos and Documentation

1. Attach photos to your findings
   Each finding should have photos showing the issue
2. Add overview photos to the event
   General condition shots even if no findings
3. Annotate photos if needed
   Add arrows, measurements, labels to clarify
4. Link video timestamps
   Note where in the ROV video each finding appears

Phase 6: Quality Check

Before handing over to client rep:

Phase 7: Handover

1. Mark task as complete
   Task status changes to "Completed"
2. Double-check all data is saved
   Refresh NEXUS to confirm everything is there
3. Inform client rep
   "Task #1 complete, ready for review"
4. Be available for questions
   Client rep may ask for clarifications or additional details

Common Mistakes to Avoid (Your First Week)

❌ Mistake #1: Vague Descriptions

Bad: "Some corrosion observed"
Good: "Corrosion patch on NE corner flange, approx 25mm diameter, depth ~2mm, rust color, active (no marine growth coverage)"

❌ Mistake #2: Missing Measurements

Bad: "Large crack noted"
Good: "Crack in weld seam, length 150mm, width 2mm, depth not measurable from visual, oriented vertically"

❌ Mistake #3: Non-Specific Locations

Bad: "Damage on side"
Good: "Impact damage on west-facing support leg, 2.5m above mudline, 300mm below upper flange"

❌ Mistake #4: Combining Multiple Issues

Bad: One finding: "Corrosion on multiple flanges and some marine growth"
Good: Separate findings for each flange corrosion location, plus separate finding for marine growth

❌ Mistake #5: Poor Quality Photos

Bad: Blurry, no scale reference, unclear what you're showing
Good: Clear, in focus, scale reference visible, annotated if needed, multiple angles

❌ Mistake #6: Entering Data Days Later

Bad: Waiting 3 days, entering from memory, forgetting details
Good: Same day entry while observations fresh, details accurate

❌ Mistake #7: Not Reviewing Previous Data

Bad: Treating every inspection as fresh, missing trends
Good: Checking if corrosion has progressed, if known issues have worsened

❌ Mistake #8: Ignoring Task Instructions

Bad: Generic inspection, missing client-specific requirements
Good: Reading instructions, addressing specific areas of concern client mentioned

NEXUS Interface - What You Need to Know

NEXUS has 6 main screens. As a 3.4U inspector, you'll use 2 of them regularly:

🎯 Screens You'll Use Daily:

1. WORKPACKS - Your job list

• See your assigned workpacks
• View task lists
• Check what's complete vs incomplete
• Access task instructions

2. INSPECTION - Where you record data

• Navigate asset hierarchy
• Create events
• Add findings
• Attach photos
• Review previous inspections
• Access drawings

⏭️ Screens You Can Ignore (For Now):

Key Interface Elements

Asset Tree (Left Side):

• Hierarchical view of all assets
• Click to expand/collapse
• Select asset to view its data

Main Work Area (Center):

• Changes based on what you're viewing
• Task lists, event grids, forms appear here

Detail Panes (Right/Bottom):

• Events, Findings, Photos, Drawings
• Can be arranged/resized
• Double-click headers to dock/undock

Toolbar (Top):

• Add, Edit, Delete buttons
• Import, Export, Reports
• Context-sensitive (changes based on what's selected)

Keyboard Shortcuts (Time Savers)

👔 For Client Representatives: Reviewing Inspector Data

Your role: Quality assurance and approval of inspection data before it goes to the client.

What to Check When Reviewing:

Common Feedback to Give Inspectors:

• "Can you add measurements to Finding #3?"
• "Photo of the corrosion patch is unclear - can you provide a closer shot?"
• "Location says 'side' - which side specifically? Need compass direction."
• "Finding description is good but needs dimensions."
• "This looks significant - should we raise an anomaly?"

How to Provide Feedback in NEXUS:

1. Add comments directly to events/findings
2. Use email/Slack to communicate with inspector
3. Don't change inspector's data without discussing first
4. If corrections needed, ask inspector to make them (traceability)

📝 Practice Exercise

Before moving to Module 2, try this mental walkthrough:

🚀 What's Next: Module 2

You now have the foundation. In Module 2: Understanding NEXUS Asset Hierarchy, you'll learn:

• How subsea assets are organized in NEXUS
• Navigating complex asset trees
• Understanding asset relationships (parent-child)
• Finding specific assets quickly
• Asset information groups and what they mean
• Why hierarchy matters for inspection planning