TAMU - Pemex

Offshore Drilling

Lesson 12
- Special Problems
- Rigs
1

Lesson 12 - Special Problems

Special Problems
Navigation

Workboats
Tides

Miscellaneous
API RP 2P- Spread Mooring
Rigs, Arctic Drilling, etc.
2

Navigation
M

Measured
distance
A

Measured
distance
Known
distance

Figure 9.1. Navigation using circular grid

Need two or more fixed radio stations - electromagnetic signals. Circular Navigation System. Short range.
3
Quite accurate. Stations A & B can be on shore or on platforms. A third station may be needed...

Fig. 9-2. A
hyperbolic grid
formed by
taking the
difference in
distance to the
fixed stations A
and B.

Stations A & B are contacted simultaneously. Difference in arrival times locates you on a hyperbola. 4
A third station is needed to specify where on the hyperbola. Not very accurate. A & B are slave stations.

Satellite Orbit

Time T2

Time T3

Time T1

Computer
Receiver

Figure 9.4 - Relative geometry of shipboard

user and satellite
On the first pass, position to ~ 1/10 mile. After several passes ~ 100 ft. 9 EA 2-minute messages
are available on each pass. Utilizes Doppler frequency shift.

Drillship
R.F. Bauer
Global Marine
WD = 2000'

Comparison of Vessel Characteristics

Property

Workboat

Drilling Vessel

Primary
location

In Transit

Moored

Location
during
Storm

Maneuver or
or go to
harbor

Moored

Vessel
motion

Generally bad,
but of minor
concern

Must
be low
7

Comparison of Vessel Characteristics

Property

Workboat

Drilling Vessel

Load
arrangement

Load and unload

part of cargo, then
ballast to safe trim

For drilling
operation
efficiency

Loading and
unloading

Easy to load and

discharge full cargo

Relatively little
cargo change

Maneuverability

Very important

Relatively
unimportant

Propulsion/
displacement
load line limit

2 to 4 hp/ton

Less than
1 hp/ton
8

Table 9-3: Characteristics of Offshore Supply Vessels

Ship No. 1

Ship No. 2

Length Overall (LOA) 185

200

Length beam (LB)

166

185

Depth, molded (D)

169

186

Lightship
displacement, LT
Fuel, gal

816

844

185,000

183,000

Potable water, gal

32,969

31,250

Drill water, bbl

3,880

6,400

Length after-deck

92.6

105

No. dry mud tanks

(P-tanks)
Gross tonnage

4 @ 1,060 ft

4 @ 1.1125 ft

699

Note: Volumes in bbl, gal, cu.ft - all in one table

Table 9-3: Characteristics of Offshore Vessels:

Load Line Data
Ship No. 1

Ship No. 2

Draft (H)

1410

156

Length water line

(LWL)
Displacement, LT

166

185

1,767

2,050

The workboat is the workhorse of the offshore industry. One per ship? Less? Up to 3!

10

Table 9-3: Characteristics of Offshore Vessels:

Maximum Deck Cargo
Ship No. 1

Ship No. 2

Deck cargo, LT

394

500

Displacement, LT

1,613.1

1,932.4

Fuel Oil, LT

127

395.4

Potable water, LT

62.4

56.4

Drill water, LT

207

65.55

Draft (H)

141

15

Freeboard, ft

2.67

3.50

Trial speed, kts

13.7

15

11

Fresh Water

Engine
Room

Drill Water

Fuel Tanks
Pneumatic Tanks

The workboat brings supplies for drilling a well. Places anchors. Most tanks are below deck.12

Maximum Storm Condition: North Sea

With 496 ft leg
Water depth

310 ft

Max wave height

85 ft

Corresponding wave
period

14 sec

Max wind velocity

89 kts

Air gap

65 ft

Current

1.6 kts

Penetration

10 ft

Jack-up
Rig

*Cantilever extended 55 ft alt; Full dynamic

analysis
13

Dimensions and Capacities

Jacking System
Number 3 X 12 pinions
Size 1,000 kips (446 T) per pinion continuous jacking
Size 1,600 kips (726) per pinion maximum holding
Jacking speed 1.55 ft/min.

Rack Chock System

6 racks per leg for 3 legs
Design Friede & Goldman
39,000 kips capacity--- hydraulic
14

Figure 9.8 - Idealized oscillations of tides

14-19 Days
Spring tide
Neap Tide

Mean
Water
Level

Once or twice per day

Tide = sea level oscillations of approximately daily or twice per day. Affect KB height above ML.
15
Measurements should be normalized to Mean Water Level. Tides vary from <1 ft to ~ 50 ft.

Figure 9.9 -

Typical
tide curves
for United
States
ports.

16

Figure 9.9 - Typical tide curves for

United States ports
Boston

New York

17

Figure 9.9 - Typical tide curves for

United States ports.
Hampton Roads

Savannah River Entr.

18

Figure 9.9 - Typical tide curves for

United States ports.
Ft
2
1
0

Key West

Pensacola

Galveston

NOTE: Pensacola - almost disappears! Galveston - from 1 to 2 cycles per day!

19

API RP 2P
January 1
1984

20

(Y Ph / W )2 s2 (Ph / W )2
Y (Ph / W ) (cosh ( WX / Ph ) 1)
s (Ph / W ) sinh ( WX / Ph )

Figure 9 - Basic Catenary Relationships

21

Figure 10.
Force
Geometry
and Vecto r
Diagram

22

NOTE: API RP 2P
has different
force equations

Fig. 11 - Example Analysis Wind Areas

23

Vessel
Hydrophone signal
Hydrophones

Beaconsignal
transmission

Wellhead
assembly
Sea bottom

Wellhead
position
Ship position
Position Indicating
Display
Short base Line phase comparison system

Acoustic Position Reference System.

Source: Honeywell
24

Tilt Indicator for Guide Structures

25
May be mounted on temporary guide base. View with camera. Start hole within 1/2 deg. of vertical.

Offshore Drilling Structures

Offshore Drilling Structures

Fixed
Floating
Tension Log

26

Can be up to 10 miles * 20 miles * 200 ft

52,800 * 105,600 * 200 * 62.4 * 0.9 = 6.26 E13 lbs 31 billion tons!

Ice Floes in the Beaufort Sea

27
It is a good idea to get out of the way when one of these babies comes along! Glory Hole may be needed

WL

ML

Spud Cans
Platform Piles

Typical Jack-up & Platform layout

28

Fixed Jacking System with Leg Locking Device

29

30

Noble
Drillings
Cecil
Forbes

A Jack-Up
Rig
31

Shells
Cognac
Conventional
20-well
Platform

Wells are
directionally
drilled
32

Shells
Bullwinkle
Worlds tallest
offshore
structure
1,353 water
depth
Production
began in 1989
45,000 b/d
80MM scf/d
33

Small
concrete
monotower
concept

Concrete
Monotower
Concept
Gravity
Structure
34

Several
guy wires
and clump
weights
support a
compliant
platform.

Guy wires

35

Main Deck
Column

A semisubmersible with floats that are located

below the waterline when drilling
36

37

Sonats
George
Washington

A SemiSubmersible
Rig

38

Zapatas
Trader
A Drillship

39

Joides
Resolution
Ocean Drilling
Program

40

Production
Platform
Several
tensioned
tubes hold a
tension-leg
platform on
station.
Steel Tubes
41

42