Study on the general layout of semi-submersible offshore drilling platforms based on process flow

The general layout of 6th generation semi-submersible drilling platforms is the main factor impacting the efficiency of their drilling operations. This paper provides a compound/integrated algorithm based on process flow that is aimed at improving efficiency, while giving attention to stability and safety at the same time. The paper describes the process flow of dual drilling centers and a hierarchical division of rigs based on the different modes of transportation of various drilling support systems. The general layout-centripetal overall arrangement spatially was determined based on drilling efficiency. We derived our modules according to drilling functionality; the modules became our basic layout units. We applied different layout algorithm to mark out the upper and lower decks. That is, the upper deck was designed based on the lowest transportation cost while the lower deck＇s calculations were based on the best-fit scope. Storage configurations in columns and pontoons were also considered for the layout design. Finally the center of gravity was taken into consideration and the general layout was adjusted accordingly, to result in an optimal center of gravity. The methodology of the general layout can provide a reference for implementation of domestic designs of semi-submersible rigs.

Compulsory Liability Insurance for Marine Drilling Platforms Pollution under Chinese Law

Compulsory liability insurance has widely existed in the field of marine insurance. However, marine drilling platforms have always been excluded from this system in China. In view of the special legal nature of oil pollution compulsory liability insurance for marine drilling platforms, this paper analyzes a number of issues related to oil pollution compulsory liability insurance, elaborates on the necessity for China to implement the system and makes some suggestions about the implementation of that.

Mechanical analysis of deepwater drilling riser system based on multibody system dynamics

A multibody system including a drilling riser system,tensioners and a floating platform is key equipment for offshore oil and gas drilling.Most of the previous studies only focus on the drilling riser system rather than the multibody system.Mechanical characteristics of the deepwater drilling riser system cannot be analyzed accurately in a simplified model.Therefore,a three-dimensional multibody analysis program is developed.The static and dynamic characteristics of the deepwater drilling riser system under different platform motions are analyzed based on the developed program.The results show that the static displacement of the riser system with tensioners is smaller than that without tensioners,which means the tensioners can suppress the deformation of the riser system.Under surge and sway motions of the platform,the dynamic displacement of the riser system with tensioners is also smaller than that without tensioners due to the tensioner suppression effect.Besides,the heave motion induces a uniform axial vibration of the riser system,while roll and pitch motions excite the riser system to vibrate laterally.Compared with the stress amplitude due to surge and sway motions,the stress amplitude of the riser system due to heave,roll and pitch motions is relatively small but cannot be neglected.

Application of the monitoring and early warning system for internal solitary waves:Take the second natural gas hydrates production test in the South China Sea as an example

Internal solitary waves(ISWs) contain great energy and have the characteristics of emergency and concealment. To avoid their damage to offshore engineering, a new generation of monitoring and early warning system for ISWs was developed using technologies of double buoys monitoring, intelligent realtime data transmission, and automatic software identification. The system was applied to the second natural gas hydrates(NGHs) production test in the Shenhu Area, South China Sea(SCS) and successfully provided the early warning of ISWs for 173 days(from October 2019 to April 2020). The abrupt changes in the thrust force of the drilling platform under the attack of ISWs were consistent with the early warning information, proving the reliability of this system. A total of 93 ISWs were detected around the drilling platform. Most of them occurred during the spring tides in October–December 2019 and April 2020, while few of them occurred in winter. As suggested by the theoretical model, the full-depth structure of ISWs was a typical current profile of mode-1, and the velocities of wave-induced currents can reach 80 cm/s and30 cm/s, respectively, in the upper ocean and near the seabed. The ISWs may be primarily generated from the interactions between the topography and semidiurnal tides in the Luzon Strait, and then propagate westward to the drilling platform. This study could serve as an important reference for the early warning of ISWs for offshore engineering construction in the future.

Fiber Bragg Grating Strain Sensors for Marine Engineering

For the health monitoring of the offshore drilling platform in the salt-fog environment, three nonmetallic materials, i.e., silica, FR-4 epoxy board and sheet molding compound （SMC）, with the good anti-corrosion ability were chosen as the packaging materials for the fiber Bragg grating （FBG） strain sensors. By selecting a highly sensitive structure of the fiber Bragg grating strain sensor, the performances of the sensors with three materials were investigated both numerically and experimentally. The strain sensitivities were 3.76pm/με, 3.02pm/με and 3.03pm/με, respectively. The linearity was better than 0.998. It provides useful information for developing sensors for the marine engineering.