Ageing Wisely

Some ways to live life more useful and possibly improve your prospect in the year of rabbit 2011:

Some feel that we should get less on the virtual internet and more real networking with professionals and "people on the street". Engage with them and networking in the real world will do far more good if you are into some business than networking in the virtual social networld. Most of the activities in virtual networking will likely not get you into any kind of productive or "economic" benefits, so to speak, unless you have that much free time to spare. Office seniors or executives often face issues they can’t discuss with others at the company. Sometimes they just need an outside perspective from another management executive. Example, some of Oracle CEO Larry Ellison’s friends are Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Mark Hurd ( HP ex-CEO). They met and discussed. I cannot imagine what happen when Bill Gates or Warren Buffet meets. A huge component of any manager’s success is their ability to anticipate significant changes or innovations. While nobody could really glaze at the crystal ball and predict, if you get enough anecdotal data from enough sources, you can get a pretty good idea of what’s going on. You don’t know what you don’t know. While there are exceptions, know-it-alls don’t typically get ahead. Managers know what they don’t know and do not try to be smart and fool themselves. It means they depend very much on comparing notes with others in their networking.

Whether 2010 was the best "recovery" year on record or a "lull and dull" year waiting for another few more unexpected world crisis to happen, learn what you can from the numerous events happened around the globe and move on. We all probably will be better off living in and focusing on the present and plan out what we should do in the coming future, be it with some risks, no risk at all.

Whether it is your lousy job, your unreasonable boss, or your a**hole colleagues, either do something about it or suck it up. Whining does not help but make everyone around your office as miserable as you are. It just dampen the office spirit further. If you need to spoonfeed your staff, give it to them bit by bit and tell them it is time now for them to "swim by themselves". Whatever it is that has you all wound up, if you actually bite the bullet and deal with it, it’ll free your mind for what really matters.

Put the E-gadgets down. Safe advice for pretty much all of us in this gadget-crazy world. You’ll be more productive and have more to look out for in life than what you think you have achieved so far.

If all else does not seem to work on your end, try changing it. We all faced with thing or issue at times we know aren’t working on our side. Whether it’s your job, your marriage, or your investment portfolio, once you know for sure, the sooner you change it, the likelihood you will work around it better.

Take care of yourself and not be hard on yourself. Just do the best you can and then, be good to yourself and those around your family members. Spend time with yourself and your love ones. Work out, eat right, meditate, get out and have fun. 

Try new things, take on some challenges, even if they might seem a bit of risky. Don’t take dumb risks but reasonable, calculated ones. Most people are too risk averse for their own good.

We all spend a good deal of time on "bs". You know what this is - mindless distraction. If it’s fun or with colleagues and friends, that’s great. But if you sit around for hours with your eyes glued to your LCD TV or notebook, you’ve likely got some problem and need to re-assess yourself. Keep away your laptop for a while, check your I-phone no more than once a day. Go for a walk every day and think about one of the issues on your list. Don’t worry about conclusions. Just think and think and you may realise you have been missing the point.

It maybe true that every chinese new year’s resolutions don’t really work except psychologically in your own mind. The start of a english or chinese lunar new year is as good a time as any to take stock of what is and isn’t working in your life and doing something about it. Do not look back and try to "search your soul" for what doesn’t exist and, instead, just do something worth about it. Simple said than doing it but with a little bit of push and commitment, you should be able to see some "light at the end of the tunnel", as they say.

People when asked how they feel about getting older, and they will probably reply : “Old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.” Stiffening joints, weakening muscles, fading eyesight ( these are what my parents are now going through at the seventies ) and the clouding of memory, coupled with the modern world’s careless contempt for the old, seem a fearful prospect—better than death, perhaps, but not much. Life is not a long slow decline from sunlit uplands towards the valley of death. It is probably a U-turn and how you personally going to deal with it positively.

More on Offshore Drilling

A jack-up rig consists of a movable platform which can be jacked up and down the (usually) three supporting legs. The video clip below shows one of the typical designs. These provide a common means of drilling in water, where the water depth is relatively shallow - say, 50 to 400 feet.

Jack-ups will be floated out to location and the legs then lowered independently until they are bedded securely and the platform is level and above wave height. It is clear that their use would be restricted when

there are strong currents or an unstable seabed.

A semi-submersible is a floater drilling rig. In this case, a deck is supported by a tubular structure, and by two hulls to provide buoyancy. Again, the deck carries equipment, accommodation modules, a helicopter pad and typical layout is shown in the below video clip.

Semi-submersibles can move easily from one location to another either by being towed or under their own thrusters power. They are mainly used, therefore, for exploration and appraisal drilling where this ease of movement is essential.

When on location, the semi-sub (as it is often helipad called) takes on water ballast (into the two hulls, etc). This will lower the structure in the water and lower the centre of gravity. In this position it is shielded from the effects of rough water at the surface and achieves a high degree of stability.

A semi-sub can operate in deeper water than a jack-up. Its maximum operating water depth depends on the type of mooring system employed. Some semi-subs use anchors with wire and chain to hold them on station. Others use dynamic positioning which is a system of computer controlled thrusters, to maintain their position. Modern semi-subs using anchors may, in exceptional circumstances, drill in water up to 3,000 feet deep.

Semi-subs using dynamic positioning systems are capable of drilling in even deeper waters, up to 6,000 to 10,000feet deep.

The drilling equipment in the semi-submersible is more sophisticated compare to a jack-up and more costly as the semi-sub has various sea motions while afloat and the drilling system on board has to be able to function at the same time deal with the heave motions while the rig is afloat. Some drilling systems may be able to discoupled from the vessel in case of severe and uncontrollable situation such as unexpected storm or harsh environment and for the safety of the crew, the drilling riser may be released after the sub-sea LMRP/BOP is being shut from the well.

In comparison to semi-submersibles, a jack-up has some advantages:

a) Lower construction costs. Semi-sub usually cost almost double of that of jack-up or more
b) Less personnel required to run the rig. Jack-up has about 120men compared to Semi-sub with 200men onboard
c) Because of (a) and (b) lower day rates.
d) The possibility to work over a fixed platform.
e) It is cheaper for the operator to use a jack-up:
 -Less powerful tug boats to move the rig while it is afloat
 -No mooring system required, no lost time to run anchors. But some rigs now come standard with anchors
 -Less maintenance costs.
 -Surface BOP without sub sea system.
 -Simple well head assembly.
f) Less down time:
 -No wait on weather due to motions.
 -Drilling equipment can be handled faster and easier.

However, the jack-up have some disadvantages:

a) Limited water depth. The maximum water depth for the largest JU is 450ft. Semi-sub could work up to 10,000feet on the latest design.
b) Depends on bottom condition. The bottom soil conditions may cause a punch through or deep leg penetration. Semi-sub does not have such issue as it is afloat while drilling operation is carrying out.
c) In case of a blow-out the rig can not move off location whereas a semi could.
d) More fragile. Many incidents and damages during moving and because of a punch through. Statistics have shown that over 75% of the incidents occur under tow or during jack-up/jack-down operations.
e) Safe operations require strict procedures.

The table below show some of the different jackup designs ( excluding KeppelFELS design of A-class, Super A, B-class, Super-B,etc ) and its capability in terms of size, VDL capacity,etc :

Types of Drilling Rig Capability

Some key personnel on board the drilling rig and their roles and responsibility :-

Tool pusher - In overall charge of rig operations, implementing the drilling plan and compliance with all safety requirements. Reports to the company representative.

Driller - In charge of the drilling process and operations. Responsible for compliance with the drilling plan and for the drilling crew. Reports to the tool/tourpusher.

Assistant driller - Assists the driller. Usually responsible to the driller for the operation of bulk storage equipment (for handling mud chemicals, etc.) and for the mud flowline system. Reports to the driller.

Derrickman - Responsible for the storage and movement of tubulars in the derrick and monitoring the mud systems. Reports to the driller.

Roughneck - Works on the rig floor. Responsible for general rig floor activities under the direction of the driller/assistant driller. Reports to the driller.

Rustabout - A member of the general workforce, assisting with the movement of materials,cleaning, painting, etc.

Drilling Operation and components

Drilling Completion

Formulas for Drilling and Prod



Rig Functions

Drilling Mud Technology

Drilling Mud Technology

More on Offshore Drilling

A jack-up rig consists of a movable platform which can be jacked up and down the (usually) three supporting legs. The video clip below shows one of the typical designs. These provide a common means of drilling in water, where the water depth is relatively shallow - say, 50 to 400 feet.

Jack-ups will be floated out to location and the legs then lowered independently until they are bedded securely and the platform is level and above wave height. It is clear that their use would be restricted when

there are strong currents or an unstable seabed.

A semi-submersible is a floater drilling rig. In this case, a deck is supported by a tubular structure, and by two hulls to provide buoyancy. Again, the deck carries equipment, accommodation modules, a helicopter pad and typical layout is shown in the below video clip.

Semi-submersibles can move easily from one location to another either by being towed or under their own thrusters power. They are mainly used, therefore, for exploration and appraisal drilling where this ease of movement is essential.

When on location, the semi-sub (as it is often helipad called) takes on water ballast (into the two hulls, etc). This will lower the structure in the water and lower the centre of gravity. In this position it is shielded from the effects of rough water at the surface and achieves a high degree of stability.

A semi-sub can operate in deeper water than a jack-up. Its maximum operating water depth depends on the type of mooring system employed. Some semi-subs use anchors with wire and chain to hold them on station. Others use dynamic positioning which is a system of computer controlled thrusters, to maintain their position. Modern semi-subs using anchors may, in exceptional circumstances, drill in water up to 3,000 feet deep.

Semi-subs using dynamic positioning systems are capable of drilling in even deeper waters, up to 6,000 to 10,000feet deep.

The drilling equipment in the semi-submersible is more sophisticated compare to a jack-up and more costly as the semi-sub has various sea motions while afloat and the drilling system on board has to be able to function at the same time deal with the heave motions while the rig is afloat. Some drilling systems may be able to discoupled from the vessel in case of severe and uncontrollable situation such as unexpected storm or harsh environment and for the safety of the crew, the drilling riser may be released after the sub-sea LMRP/BOP is being shut from the well.

In comparison to semi-submersibles, a jack-up has some advantages:

a) Lower construction costs. Semi-sub usually cost almost double of that of jack-up or more
b) Less personnel required to run the rig. Jack-up has about 120men compared to Semi-sub with 200men onboard
c) Because of (a) and (b) lower day rates.
d) The possibility to work over a fixed platform.
e) It is cheaper for the operator to use a jack-up:
 -Less powerful tug boats to move the rig while it is afloat
 -No mooring system required, no lost time to run anchors. But some rigs now come standard with anchors
 -Less maintenance costs.
 -Surface BOP without sub sea system.
 -Simple well head assembly.
f) Less down time:
 -No wait on weather due to motions.
 -Drilling equipment can be handled faster and easier.

However, the jack-up have some disadvantages:

a) Limited water depth. The maximum water depth for the largest JU is 450ft. Semi-sub could work up to 10,000feet on the latest design.
b) Depends on bottom condition. The bottom soil conditions may cause a punch through or deep leg penetration. Semi-sub does not have such issue as it is afloat while drilling operation is carrying out.
c) In case of a blow-out the rig can not move off location whereas a semi could.
d) More fragile. Many incidents and damages during moving and because of a punch through. Statistics have shown that over 75% of the incidents occur under tow or during jack-up/jack-down operations.
e) Safe operations require strict procedures.

The table below show some of the different jackup designs ( excluding KeppelFELS design of A-class, Super A, B-class, Super-B,etc ) and its capability in terms of size, VDL capacity,etc :

Types of Drilling Rig Capability

Some key personnel on board the drilling rig and their roles and responsibility :-

Tool pusher - In overall charge of rig operations, implementing the drilling plan and compliance with all safety requirements. Reports to the company representative.

Driller - In charge of the drilling process and operations. Responsible for compliance with the drilling plan and for the drilling crew. Reports to the tool/tourpusher.

Assistant driller - Assists the driller. Usually responsible to the driller for the operation of bulk storage equipment (for handling mud chemicals, etc.) and for the mud flowline system. Reports to the driller.

Derrickman - Responsible for the storage and movement of tubulars in the derrick and monitoring the mud systems. Reports to the driller.

Roughneck - Works on the rig floor. Responsible for general rig floor activities under the direction of the driller/assistant driller. Reports to the driller.

Rustabout - A member of the general workforce, assisting with the movement of materials,cleaning, painting, etc.

Drilling Operation and components

Drilling Completion

Formulas for Drilling and Prod



Rig Functions

Drilling Mud Technology

Drilling Mud Technology

More on Offshore Drilling

A jack-up rig consists of a movable platform which can be jacked up and down the (usually) three supporting legs. The video clip below shows one of the typical designs. These provide a common means of drilling in water, where the water depth is relatively shallow - say, 50 to 400 feet.

Jack-ups will be floated out to location and the legs then lowered independently until they are bedded securely and the platform is level and above wave height. It is clear that their use would be restricted when

there are strong currents or an unstable seabed.

A semi-submersible is a floater drilling rig. In this case, a deck is supported by a tubular structure, and by two hulls to provide buoyancy. Again, the deck carries equipment, accommodation modules, a helicopter pad and typical layout is shown in the below video clip.

Semi-submersibles can move easily from one location to another either by being towed or under their own thrusters power. They are mainly used, therefore, for exploration and appraisal drilling where this ease of movement is essential.

When on location, the semi-sub (as it is often helipad called) takes on water ballast (into the two hulls, etc). This will lower the structure in the water and lower the centre of gravity. In this position it is shielded from the effects of rough water at the surface and achieves a high degree of stability.

A semi-sub can operate in deeper water than a jack-up. Its maximum operating water depth depends on the type of mooring system employed. Some semi-subs use anchors with wire and chain to hold them on station. Others use dynamic positioning which is a system of computer controlled thrusters, to maintain their position. Modern semi-subs using anchors may, in exceptional circumstances, drill in water up to 3,000 feet deep.

Semi-subs using dynamic positioning systems are capable of drilling in even deeper waters, up to 6,000 to 10,000feet deep.

The drilling equipment in the semi-submersible is more sophisticated compare to a jack-up and more costly as the semi-sub has various sea motions while afloat and the drilling system on board has to be able to function at the same time deal with the heave motions while the rig is afloat. Some drilling systems may be able to discoupled from the vessel in case of severe and uncontrollable situation such as unexpected storm or harsh environment and for the safety of the crew, the drilling riser may be released after the sub-sea LMRP/BOP is being shut from the well.

In comparison to semi-submersibles, a jack-up has some advantages:

a) Lower construction costs. Semi-sub usually cost almost double of that of jack-up or more
b) Less personnel required to run the rig. Jack-up has about 120men compared to Semi-sub with 200men onboard
c) Because of (a) and (b) lower day rates.
d) The possibility to work over a fixed platform.
e) It is cheaper for the operator to use a jack-up:
 -Less powerful tug boats to move the rig while it is afloat
 -No mooring system required, no lost time to run anchors. But some rigs now come standard with anchors
 -Less maintenance costs.
 -Surface BOP without sub sea system.
 -Simple well head assembly.
f) Less down time:
 -No wait on weather due to motions.
 -Drilling equipment can be handled faster and easier.

However, the jack-up have some disadvantages:

a) Limited water depth. The maximum water depth for the largest JU is 450ft. Semi-sub could work up to 10,000feet on the latest design.
b) Depends on bottom condition. The bottom soil conditions may cause a punch through or deep leg penetration. Semi-sub does not have such issue as it is afloat while drilling operation is carrying out.
c) In case of a blow-out the rig can not move off location whereas a semi could.
d) More fragile. Many incidents and damages during moving and because of a punch through. Statistics have shown that over 75% of the incidents occur under tow or during jack-up/jack-down operations.
e) Safe operations require strict procedures.

The table below show some of the different jackup designs ( excluding KeppelFELS design of A-class, Super A, B-class, Super-B,etc ) and its capability in terms of size, VDL capacity,etc :

Types of Drilling Rig Capability

Some key personnel on board the drilling rig and their roles and responsibility :-

Tool pusher - In overall charge of rig operations, implementing the drilling plan and compliance with all safety requirements. Reports to the company representative.

Driller - In charge of the drilling process and operations. Responsible for compliance with the drilling plan and for the drilling crew. Reports to the tool/tourpusher.

Assistant driller - Assists the driller. Usually responsible to the driller for the operation of bulk storage equipment (for handling mud chemicals, etc.) and for the mud flowline system. Reports to the driller.

Derrickman - Responsible for the storage and movement of tubulars in the derrick and monitoring the mud systems. Reports to the driller.

Roughneck - Works on the rig floor. Responsible for general rig floor activities under the direction of the driller/assistant driller. Reports to the driller.

Rustabout - A member of the general workforce, assisting with the movement of materials,cleaning, painting, etc.

Drilling Operation and components

Drilling Completion

Formulas for Drilling and Prod



Rig Functions

Drilling Mud Technology

Drilling Mud Technology

Fundamental of floater naval architecture considerations

Ship or floater ( jackup or semi-submersible ) stability is a complicated aspect of naval architecture which has existed in some form or another for years. Historically, floaters stability calculations relied on rule-of-thumb calculations, often tied to a specific system of measurement. Some of these very old equations continue to be used in naval architecture books today, however the advent of the ship/floater model basin allows much more complex analysis.

When a ship, jackup or semi-submersible hull is designed, stability calculations are performed for the intact and damaged states of the vessel. Floaters are usually designed to slightly exceed the stability requirements (refer below), as they are usually tested for this by a classification society. Jack-ups are also considered in the stability calculation as the rig will at times move to other drillsite locations either by wet tow, in terms of staggered field tows or long ocean towage.

Intact stability calculations are relatively straightforward and involve taking all the centers of mass of objects on the vessel and the center of buoyancy of the hull. Cargo arrangements and loadings, crane operations, and the design sea states are usually taken into account.

Damaged stability calculations are much more complicated than intact stability. Finite element analysis is often employed because the areas and volumes can quickly become tedious and long to compute using other methods.

The loss of stability from flooding may be due in part to the free surface effect. Water accumulating in the hull usually drains to the bilges, lowering the centre of gravity and actually increasing the metacentric height (GMt). This assumes the floater remains completely stationary and upright or with slight heel or trim. However, once the ship or floater is inclined to any degree (a wave strikes it for example), the fluid in the bilge moves to the low side. This results in a list.

Stability is also lost due to flooding when, for example, an empty tank is holed and filled with seawater. The lost buoyancy of the tank results in that section of the ship lowers into the water slightly. This creates a list unless the tank is on the centerline of the vessel.

In stability calculations, when a tank is holed, its contents are assumed to be lost and replaced by seawater. If these contents are lighter than seawater, (light oil for example) then buoyancy is lost and the section lowers slightly in the water accordingly.

An Inclining test is performed on a ship or floater to determine its stability and the coordinates of its center of gravity. The test is applied to newly-constructed floaters greater than 24m in length. Inclining test procedures are specified by the International Maritime Organization and other international associations.

The weight of a floater can be readily determined by reading draughts and comparing with the known properties. The metacentric height (GM), which dominates stability, can be estimated from the design, but an accurate value must be determined by an inclining test. During the construction of the rig, weight control report updating the current design lightship weight of the vessel is done progressively from various inputs, eg, the steel weights, equipment weights,etc. from various design engineering disciplines.

The inclining test is usually done inshore in calm weather, in still water, and free of mooring restraints to achieve accuracy. The GM position is determined by moving weights transversely to produce a known overturning moment in the range of 1-4 degrees if possible. Knowing the restoring properties (buoyancy) of the rig or vessel from its dimensions and floating position and measuring the equilibrium angle of the weighted vessel, the GM can be calculated. Usually this kind of test takes less than two days, however for jackups, may take slightly longer as it involves spudding down the legs at the quayside after completing the test.

For U.S. flagged vessels, blueprints and stability calculations are checked against the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and SOLAS conventions. Ships are required to be stable in the conditions to which they are designed for, in both undamaged and damaged states. The extent of damage required to design for is included in the regulations. The assumed hole is calculated as fractions of the length and breadth of the vessel, and is to be placed in the area of the ship where it would cause the most damage to vessel stability.



NA Lecture Notes

MARIN, the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands, is one of the leading institutes in the world for hydrodynamic research and maritime technology. The services incorporate a unique combination of simulation, model testing, full-scale measurements and training programmes. MARIN provides services to the shipbuilding and offshore industry and governments. Today MARIN disposes of the following 7 test facilities: Shallow water basin, Deep water basin, High speed basin, Offshore basin, Seakeeping and Manoeuvring basin, Vacuum tank and Cavitation tunnel.