scholarly journals Advanced Intelligent Control Strategy in Dynamic Positioning (DP) System Applied to a Semi-Submersible Drilling Platform in the North Sea

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Alremeihi ◽  
Rosemary Norman ◽  
Kayvan Pazouki ◽  
Arun Dev ◽  
Musa Bashir
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Dynamic Positioning ◽  
Gas Drilling ◽  
The North ◽  
Drilling Operations ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Wind Currents

Abstract Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems play a crucial role in oil and gas drilling and production floaters used globally for deep-water operations. Drilling operations need to maintain automatic positioning of the platform in the horizontal-plane within the safe zone. Operating DP systems typically require highly responsive control systems when encountering prevailing weather conditions. However, DP incident analysis demonstrates that control and thruster failures have been the leading causes of accidents for the past two decades, according to the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). In this paper, a Predictive Neural Network (PNN) strategy is proposed for thruster allocation on a platform; it has been developed by predicting the platform response and training the network to transform the required force commands from a nonlinear Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) motion controller for each thruster. The strategy is developed for increasing safety and zone keeping of DP-assisted-drilling operations in harsh weather. This is done by allowing the platform to recover the position more rapidly whilst decreasing the risk of losing the platform position and heading, which can lead to catastrophic damage. The operational performance of the DP system on a drilling platform subjected to the North Sea real environmental conditions of wind, currents and waves, is simulated with the model incorporating the PNN control algorithm, which deals with dynamic uncertainties, into the unstable conventional PID control system for a current drilling semi-submersible model. The simulation results demonstrate the improvement in DP accuracy and robustness for the semi-submersible drilling platform positioning and performance using the PNN strategy.

scholarly journals Performance of an Advanced Intelligent Control Strategy in a Dynamic Positioning (DP) System Applied to a Semisubmersible Drilling Platform

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 399
Author(s):  
Mohamad Alremeihi ◽  
Rosemary Norman ◽  
Kayvan Pazouki ◽  
Arun Dev ◽  
Musa Bashir
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Dynamic Positioning ◽  
System Failures ◽  
Oil Drilling ◽  
System A ◽  
Advanced Control ◽  
Safety And Reliability ◽  
Drilling Operations ◽  
Shallow Seas

Oil drilling and extraction platforms are currently being used in many offshore areas around the world. Whilst those operating in shallow seas are secured to the seabed, for deeper water operations, Dynamic Positioning (DP) is essential for the platforms to maintain their position within a safe zone. Operating DP requires intelligent and reliable control systems. Nearly all DP accidents have been caused by a combination of technical and human failures; however, according to the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) DP Incidents Analysis, DP control and thruster system failures have been the leading causes of incidents over the last ten years. This paper will investigate potential operational improvements for DP system accuracy by adding a Predictive Neural Network (PNN) control algorithm in the thruster allocation along with a nonlinear Proportional Integral derivative (PID) motion control system. A DP system’s performance on a drilling platform in oil and gas deep-water fields and subject to real weather conditions is simulated with these advanced control methods. The techniques are developed for enhancing the safety and reliability of DP operations to improve the positioning accuracy, which may allow faster response to a critical situation during DP drilling operations. The semisubmersible drilling platform’s simulation results using the PNN strategy show improved control of the platform’s positioning.

DP Safety for Offshore Drilling and Well Intervention Vessels

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Chen ◽  
T. Moan
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Dynamic Positioning ◽  
Barrier Method ◽  
Offshore Drilling ◽  
The North ◽  
Well Integrity ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Norwegian Continental Shelf ◽  
Barrier Model

Barrier method is used to model the safety of dynamic positioning (DP) operation for mobile drilling and well intervention vessels. Two barrier functions are identified which are aimed to prevent loss of position and to prevent loss of well integrity given a loss of position, respectively. The first barrier function is analyzed in this paper. Deficiencies are identified based on the DP incidents on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, and recommendations are proposed to strengthen each barrier element which can improve the safety of DP operations for drilling and well intervention vessels working in the North Sea. The barrier model and recommendations are also valid to DP operations on drilling and well intervention vessels worldwide.

scholarly journals A prospective observational study of why people are medically evacuated from offshore installations in the North Sea

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. e037558
Author(s):  
Anne Waje-Andreassen ◽  
Øyvind Østerås ◽  
Guttorm Brattebø
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Record System ◽  
The North ◽  
Transport Services ◽  
Offshore Installations ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
The North Sea

ObjectivesFew studies have described evacuations due to medical emergencies from the offshore installations in the North Sea, though efficient medical service is essential for the industrial activities in this area. The major oil- and gas-producing companies’ search and rescue (SAR) service is responsible for medical evacuations. Using a prospective approach, we describe the characteristics of patients evacuated by SAR.Design and settingA prospective observational study of the offshore primary care provided by SAR in the North Sea.MethodsPatients were identified by linking flight information from air transport services in 2015/2016 and the company’s medical record system. Standardised forms filled out by SAR nurses during the evacuation were also analysed. In-hospital information was obtained retrospectively from Haukeland University Hospital’s information system.ResultsA total of 381 persons (88% men) were evacuated during the study period. Twenty-seven per cent of missions were due to chest pain and 18% due to trauma. The mean age was 46.0 years. Severity scores were higher for cases due to medical conditions compared with trauma, but the scores were relatively low compared with onshore emergency missions. The busiest months were May, July and December. Weekends were the busiest days.ConclusionThree times as many evacuations from offshore installations are performed due to acute illness than trauma, and cardiac problems are the most common. Although most patients are not severely physiologically deranged, the study documents a need for competent SAR services 24 hours a day year-round. Training and certification should be tailored for the SAR service, as the offshore health service structure and geography differs from the structure onshore.

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