Human error analysis in dynamic positioning incidents according to the nature of the operations in progress

Human errors are known to contribute to incidents in the maritime industry. Although the dynamic positioning operator has to undergo a standard training schedule before becoming a full operator, human errors contribute to 20% of the incidents in dynamic positioning operations. This research aims to investigate which dynamic positioning operations have a more considerable percentage of human errors. With a 266 dynamic positioning incidents database, different offshore operations are classified and then cross-tabulated with the human causes, classified as either primary or secondary cause as described in the incident report. The results and discussion present that drilling and diving operations are significantly correlated with human causes. This study's results could help provide better directions for the training schedule, proposing simulator exercises based on these scenarios.Peer Reviewe

Risk Analysis of DP Incidents During Drilling Operations

This paper aims to present a method to determine the type of dynamic positioning (DP) incidents that have a more significant risk during drilling operations in the period 2007-2015, according to the element or the type of failure that causes the DP system to fail. Two different classifications are made: 1) according to the element that produces the incident (which has been the traditional classification in the industry) and 2) according to the type of error that arises, the latter being an alternative classification proposed in this paper. The predictable financial losses for each level of severity are used to define the resulting consequences for each case. A risk analysis is performed with the data obtained, showing the potentially more dangerous incidents, either because of their higher number of occurrences or because their consequences are remarkable. According to the classification proposed, the main causes with the higher risk results were power and environmental, according to the traditional classification, and fault/failure. Thus, the power segment’s combination of failures is the riskiest cause during the DP drilling operations

An introduction to the offshore basics : fire safety of a drillship, Drilling Rig Unit (DRU)

The purpose of this Bachelor’s thesis was to study the basics that ship designers should know when moving from the familiar ship design duties to the unfamiliar offshore industry. The thesis was carried out as an assignment of Foreship Ltd. This thesis uses the term offshore to refer to oil and gas drilling only. In Finland several ship design and engineering companies have also expanded their activities to the offshore field, of which only a few designers have previous experience. Designers have attuned to the rules and regulations related to ships but the rules of offshore design are derived from a different rule book. In the thesis offshore as a definition is explained. Also different rig and vessel types are presented as well as the greatest offshore operators. Additionally, different offshore rules and their regulators are introduced in the thesis. In the actual study part the fire safety rules of passenger ships were compared to drillships defined by two different rule books. SOLAS and MODU Code both by International Maritime Organization were applied in the comparison. The differences were illustrated with help of comparison drawings and tables made according to the above-mentioned rule books. The requirements of fire insulation were presented in the comparison. Even with a brief examination, significant differences can be detected between ship design and offshore design. The functional requirements of vessels under consideration are very different from each other and therefore, the safety requirements vary significantly in some cases. There are a lot of new pointers in this thesis that a traditional ship designer can utilize when moving to a new design area. The study could be expanded by comparing national regulations and standards. The field is very broad because, in addition to the rule books, almost every country applies their own national regulations and standards to their design projects.Tämän insinöörityön tarkoituksena on tutkia tärkeitä perusasioita, joita laivansuunnittelijoiden tulisi tuntea siirtyessään tutuista laivansuunnittelutehtävistä tuntemattomalle offshore-alalle. Työ toteutetaan Foreship Oy:n tehtävänantona. Offshore sisältää tässä työssä merellä tapahtuvan öljyn- ja kaasunporauksen. Useat laivansuunnittelutoimistot Suomessa ovat laajentaneet toimintaansa myös offshore-alalle, josta harvalla suunnittelijalla on aiempaa kokemusta. Suunnittelijat ovat tottuneet laivoja koskeviin sääntöihin ja ohjeistuksiin, mutta offshore-suunnittelun säännöt tulevat eri sääntökirjasta. Työssä selitetään offshore-käsite, esitellään lautta- ja alustyyppejä ja suurimpia offshore-alueita ja -toimijoita. Työssä tehdään selkoa erilaisista offshore-säännöistä ja niiden valvojista. Varsinaisessa tutkimusosassa tutkitaan kahden sääntökirjan määräämiä paloturvallisuussääntöjä matkustajalaivojen ja porauslaivojen välillä. Vertailuun sovelletaan International Maritime Organizationin laatimia SOLAS- ja MODU Code -säännöstöjä. Eroavaisuuksia havainnollistetaan muun muassa edellä mainittujen sääntökirjojen avulla tehdyillä vertailukuvilla ja -taulukoilla, joissa esitetään porauslaivan paloeristysvaatimusten eroja. Suppeallakin tarkastelulla havaitaan merkittäviä eroja laivansuunnittelussa ja offshore-suunnittelussa. Vertailtavien alusten toimintavaatimukset ovat kuitenkin niin erilaiset, että turvallisuusvaatimukset vaihtelevat joissakin tilanteissa merkittävästikin. Uusia asioita perinteiselle laivansuunnittelijalle ilmenee paljon, jolloin tämä työ antaa suunnittelijalle hyvän pohjan uuden suunnittelualan valtaamiselle. Tutkimusta voitaisiin laajentaa ottamalla vertailuun erilaisia maakohtaisia säännöstöjä ja standardeja. Aihealue on erittäin laaja, koska lähestulkoon kaikki valtiot soveltavat edellä mainittujen sääntökirjojen lisäksi omia kansallisia ohjeistuksia ja standardeja suunnitteluprojekteissaan

Propuestas para la mejora de la seguridad en las operaciones especiales con anclas para la fijación de estructuras offshore

The aim of this Final Degree Project is to suggest improvements in terms of security and positioning operations in the offshore space, specifically offshore structures that are fixed to the seabed by spread anchor lines. In order to provide these improvements, this project will offer a step by step description of the operation, focusing on oil rigs, especially the semisubmersible type. These operations are held by specialized vessels named Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS), fitted with specific equipment for such activities and furthermore with the Dynamic Positioning System (DPS), whose classes and principles are also explained in further detail. In order to describe the dynamic positioning system, the AHTS vessel Havila Neptune’s, ship particulars, drawings and characteristics will be presented in detail. As these activities are carried out using large mooring lines in deep waters and deploying heavy equipment, the risk in these operations are considerable. These are carried out even in rough sea states and with multiple external loads and forces. To finish, security improvement Proposals in Anchor Handling operations will be offered, so as to prevent risks, both human and material.Grado en Ingeniería Náutica y Transporte Marítim

Prediction of Loss of Position during Dynamic Positioning Drilling Operations Using Binary Logistic Regression Modeling

The prediction of loss of position in the offshore industry would allow optimization of dynamic positioning drilling operations, reducing the number and severity of potential accidents. In this paper, the probability of an excursion is determined by developing binary logistic regression models based on a database of 42 incidents which took place between 2011 and 2015. For each case, variables describing the configuration of the dynamic positioning system, weather conditions, and water depth are considered. We demonstrate that loss of position is significantly more likely to occur when there is a higher usage of generators, and the drilling takes place in shallower waters along with adverse weather conditions; this model has very good results when applied to the sample. The same method is then applied for obtaining a binary regression model for incidents not attributable to human error, showing that it is a function of the percentage of generators in use, wind force, and wave height. Applying these results to the risk management of drilling operations may help focus our attention on the factors that most strongly affect loss of position, thereby improving safety during these operations

Determining the likelihood of incidents caused by human error during dynamic positioning drilling operations

[EN] The probability of a human-caused incident occurring during dynamic positioning (DP) drilling operations is determined in this paper using binary logistic regression models built with data on 42 incidents that took place during the period 2011–2015. For each case, a range of variables characterising the configuration of the DP system, weather conditions and water depth are taken into account. These variables are taken into account to develop a logistic regression model that shows the likelihood of an incident being caused by human error. The results obtained show that human-based incidents are significantly more likely to occur when there is a lower usage of thrusters. These results are useful for focusing our attention on variables that may be associated with incidents attributable to human error, as well as for setting operational limits that could help to prevent these incidents and improve safety during these operations.This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial or not-for-profit sectors

Sustainable seabed mining: guidelines and a new concept for Atlantis II Deep

The feasibility of exploiting seabed resources is subject to the engineering solutions, and economic prospects. Due to rising metal prices, predicted mineral scarcities and unequal allocations of resources in the world, vast research programmes on the exploration and exploitation of seabed minerals are presented in 1970s. Very few studies have been published after the 1980s, when predictions were not fulfilled. The attention grew back in the last decade with marine mineral mining being in research and commercial focus again and the first seabed mining license for massive sulphides being granted in Papua New Guinea’s Exclusive Economic Zone.Research on seabed exploitation and seabed mining is a complex transdisciplinary field that demands for further attention and development. Since the field links engineering, economics, environmental, legal and supply chain research, it demands for research from a systems point of view. This implies the application of a holistic sustainability framework of to analyse the feasibility of engineering systems. The research at hand aims to close this gap by developing such a framework and providing a review of seabed resources. Based on this review it identifies a significant potential for massive sulphides in inactive hydrothermal vents and sediments to solve global resource scarcities. The research aims to provide background on seabed exploitation and to apply a holistic systems engineering approach to develop general guidelines for sustainable seabed mining of polymetallic sulphides and a new concept and solutions for the Atlantis II Deep deposit in the Red Sea.The research methodology will start with acquiring a broader academic and industrial view on sustainable seabed mining through an online survey and expert interviews on seabed mining. In addition, the Nautilus Minerals case is reviewed for lessons learned and identification of challenges. Thereafter, a new concept for Atlantis II Deep is developed that based on a site specific assessment.The research undertaken in this study provides a new perspective regarding sustainable seabed mining. The main contributions of this research are the development of extensive guidelines for key issues in sustainable seabed mining as well as a new concept for seabed mining involving engineering systems, environmental risk mitigation, economic feasibility, logistics and legal aspects

Paper Session IV-B - Offshore Space Launch Developments

Studies have been performed to investigate the feasibility of launching space vehicles from an offshore platform site [1] & [23. Constraints on the use of existing facilities at Kennedy Space Center/Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (KSC/CCAFS) and Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) will make it increasingly difficult to meet future planned launch requirements for larger vehicles and more frequent launch schedules. A universal mobile platform which can launch a variety of space vehicles from a deepwater location, provides an efficient method of reaching all these objectives, uhile mitigating problems with site acquisition. Costs for floating or fixed platforms used in the offshore oil industry are probably less than one half the cost of providing new, fixed, onshore launch facilities. This paper presents the results of recent studies for offshore launch development. Several viable platform concepts are proposed and workable operational scenarios illustrated. Technical problems associated with vehicle transportation, propellant handling, storm survival, thrust plume effects and weather downtime are addressed. Also, concerns of site security, safety, logistics support and communications are discussed. Solutions to many of these problems already exist in the present state of the offshore oil industry