1

TAMU Pemex
Offshore Drilling
Lesson 2
Station Keeping
2
Lesson 2 - Station Keeping
Environmental Forces
Mooring
Anchors
Mooring Lines
Dynamic Positioning
3
Station Keeping
The ability of a vessel to maintain
position for drilling determines the useful
time that a vessel can effectively
operate.

Stated negatively, if the vessel cannot
stay close enough over the well to drill,
what good is the drilling equipment?
4
Station Keeping - contd
Station keeping equipment influences the
vessel motions in the horizontal plane.
These motions are: surge, sway, and
yaw. Generally, surge and sway are the
motions that are considered.

Yaw motion is decreased by the mooring
system and is neglected in most mooring
calculations.
5
Station Keeping
When investigating or designing a
mooring system, the following
criteria should be considered:
6
Operational Stage
1. The vessel is close enough over the
well for drilling operations to be
carried out. This varies between
operators, but is usually 5% or 6% of
water depth.

Later, other criteria, based on riser
considerations, will be discussed.

7
Non-operational but Connected
2. The condition from the operational
stage up to 10% of water depth:

Drilling operations have been stopped,
but the riser is still connected to the
wellhead and BOPs.

8
Disconnected
3. The riser is disconnected from the
wellhead and the BOPs, and the
vessel can be headed into the seas:

Displacement > 10% of water depth

9
Station Keeping - contd
Example

Water Depth
= 1,000 ft

Drilling: 50-60 ft

Connected:
100 ft max
1,000
10
Environmental Forces Acting
on the Drilling Vessel
(i) Wind Force

(ii) Current Force

(iii) Wave Force
These forces tend to displace the vessel
11
The Station Keeping System
Must be designed to withstand the
environmental forces

Two types:

Mooring System (anchors)
Dynamic Positioning (thrusters)
12
(i) Wind Force
The following equation is specified by
the American Bureau Shipping (ABS)
and is internationally accepted:
A C C V 00338 . 0 F
s h
2
A A
=
13
Wind Force
Where:
yaw. and heel both ith w
changes area This . ft surfaces,
exposed all of area projected A
ess dimensionl
2, - 3 Table from t coefficien height C
ess dimensionl
1, - 3 Table from t coefficien shape C
knots velocity, wind V
lb force, wind F
2
h
S
A
A
=
=
=
=
=
A C C V 00338 . 0 F
s h
2
A A
=
14
Table 3-1. Shape Coefficients
15
Table 3-2. Height Coefficients
16
(i) Wind Force - example
V
A
= 50 (wind velocity, knots)
C
h
= 1 (height coefficient)
C
s
= 1 (shape coefficient)
A = 50 * 400 (projected target area, ft
2)

Then F
A
= 0.00338 * 50
2
* 1 * 1 * 50 * 400
F
A
= 169,000 lbf = 169 kips
?
A C C V 00338 . 0 F
s h
2
A A
=
17
(i) Wind Force - example
V
A
= 50 (wind velocity, knots)

1 knot = 1 nautical mile/hr
= 1.15078 statute mile/hr
1 nautical mile = 1/60 degree = 1 minute
= 6,076 ft
A C C V 00338 . 0 F
s h
2
A A
=
18

Where:


A V C g F
2
c s c c
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
=
=
=
=
4
2
c
2
c
s
c
ft
sec * lbft
1 g
ft area, projected A
ft/sec locity, current ve V
1) - 3 (Table
t coefficien wind the as Same
ess. dimensionl t, coefficien rag d C
lb force, drag current F
(ii) Current Force
lbf
19
F
c
= 1 * 1 * 2
2
* 30 * 400

F
c
= 48,000 lbf = 48 kips
(ii) Current Force - example
V
c
= 2 (current velocity, ft/sec)
C
s
= 1 (shape coefficient)
A = 30 * 400 (projected target area, ft
2)

A V C g F
2
c s c c
=
20
(iii) Wave Forces - (a) Bow Forces:
L 0.332 T for >
4
2 2
bow
T
L B H 273 . 0
F =
T = wave period, sec
L = vessel length, ft
B = vessel width, ft
H = significant wave height, ft
21
Bow Forces - contd
L 0.332 T for <
4
2 2
bow
) T L 664 . 0 (
L B H 273 . 0
F

=
NOTE: Model test data should be used
when available
22
(iii) Wave Forces - (b) Beam Forces
2D B 0.642 T for + >
4
2 2
beam
T
L B H 10 . 2
F =
NOTE: API now has Recommended
Practices with modified equations
Where D = vessel draft, ft
23
Beam Forces - contd
2D B 0.642 T for + <
4
2 2
beam
) T D 2 B 28 . 1 (
L B H 10 . 2
F
+
=
24
Figure 3-1. The catenary as used for mooring
calculations.
Floating Drilling: Equipment and
Its Use
The Mooring Line
T
25
The Mooring Lines Resist the
Environmental Forces
26
The equations used for mooring calculations for
one single weight line are:
|
.
|

\
|
=
H
xw
cosh
w
H
y
u = =
= u
u = =

tan H H T V
) T / H ( cos
Tcos wd T H
2 2
1
The Shape of the Mooring Line:
T
H
V
u
cosh z = (e
z
+ e
-z
)/2
27
s A x L
) tan (sec ln
w
H

H
V T
ln
w
H
x
tan
w
H
w
V
s
+ =
u + u =
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
u = =
More equations used for
mooring calculations:
28
Where:

ft line). water above fairleader outboard
of height include (should depth water d
ft length, line suspended s
lb/ft length, unit per weight line w
T. of e given valu any for line suspended
the of length over the constant
is H lb. force, restoring horizontal H
degrees horizontal the
respect to with line the of angle
lb line, the of tension T
=
=
=
=
= u
=
29
ft length, line mooring total A
ft anchor, the to
vessel the from distance horizontal L
ft H, force for the account to used
condition boundary onal translati a H/w
ft seabed, the
touches line the e point wher the to
vessel the from distance horizontal x
ft , w / H d ordinate y
=
=
=
=
+ = =
and:

30
Station Keeping
Table 3-4. Example of Single Line
Restoring Forces
Try to duplicate
this Table
31
T u H
32
Figure 3-2. The effect of changing line weight--
single-line calculations.
Too Hard
Looks OK
Too Soft
S
i
n
g
l
e

L
i
n
e

R
e
s
t
o
r
i
n
g

F
o
r
c
e
,

k
i
p
s



Offset - Percent of Water Depth
33
Figure 3-3. The effect of changing initial tension only-
-single-line calculations.
Effect of Initial Tension
Water Depth - 500 ft Chain
- 2 in., 42.6 lb/ft
Initial
Tension
( KIPS )
S
i
n
g
l
e

L
i
n
e

R
e
s
t
o
r
i
n
g

F
o
r
c
e
,

k
i
p
s



Offset - Percent of Water Depth
34
Figure 3-4. The effect of changing water depth only;
single-line calculations.
Effect of Water Depth
Initial Tension - 30 KIPS

Water Depth
, ft
Wire Rope
3 in. 18.6 lb/ft
S
i
n
g
l
e

L
i
n
e

R
e
s
t
o
r
i
n
g

F
o
r
c
e
,

k
i
p
s



Offset - Percent of Water Depth
35
Station Keeping
1. In shallow water up to about 500
feet, a heavy line is needed,
particularly in rough weather areas.
2. Chain can be used (but may not be
advisable) to water depths of about
1,200 feet.
3. Composite lines may be used to
~ 5,000 feet.
36
Station Keeping - contd
4. Beyond about 5,000 feet, use
dynamic positioning

5. Calm water tension should be
determined to hold the vessel
within the operating offset under
the maximum environmental
conditions specified for operation.
37
Station Keeping - contd
6. Once the riser is disconnected, the
vessel heading may be changed to
decrease the environmental forces
on the vessel.

38
Station Keeping
Typical Mooring Patterns for Non-
Rectangular Semis
39
Typical Mooring Patterns for Ship-
Like Vessels and Rectangular Semis
40
Typical 8-line Mooring Pattern
41
Table 3-5. Effects of Mooring Line Patterns
42
Figure 3-8. Drag anchor nomenclature.
crown
Anchor shackle
fluke
stock
Crown
pad eye
shank
43
This author has developed a mooring
program for use on a portable calculator
(HP-97). The advantage of this program is
that it can be carried with the calculator and
used in remote locations, even on the rig.

There are other programs available. All
programs should have the following
capabilities:
Mooring Program
44
1. Be able to calculate the total
restoring force and tension in the
most loaded line vs. offset.

2. Be able to handle a minimum of
ten mooring lines.

3. Be able to handle composite line
data for wire rope and chain.

Mooring Program should...
45
4. Have iteration limits such that the worst
error for calculating forces in a line
will be less than 0.1% of the smallest
value anticipated.

5. Include stretch in both the wire rope
and the chain. Errors of over 30%
have been encountered when chain
stretch was not included.
Mooring Program should...
46
Setting Anchor with Workboat
Anchor before touching bottom
Drilling vessel winching-in cable
Pendant
Mooring Line
Fluke
47
Fluke Tip Touching
Bottom
Mud Pressure Holds
Fluke Open
48
Figure 3-12. The sequence of setting an
anchor with a workboat.
Anchor Set and
Digging In
Pendant
Slacked
(What is Piggyback?)
49
6 strands, 19 wires per strand
Strand Construction for Mooring Lines
( IWRC - Independent Wire Rope Core )
50
Table 3-7. Wire Rope Specifications
6 x 37 Bright
51
Wire Rope Specifications
6 x 37 Bright
Diameter
in

1
2
3
3.5
Weight
lbs/ft

1.85
7.39
16.6
22.7
Strength
tons

49.1
190
414
555
52
Fatigue Life of 3/4 Wire Rope
Load = 30% of breaking strength: Life = ~10
5
cycles
Load = 20% of breaking strength: Life > 4*10
6
cycles
53
Figure 3-15.
Chain Nomenaclature.
Stud Link Chain
Stud keeps chain from collapsing

3 chain has breaking strength > 1,000 kips!
Wire
Dia.
Pitch
54
Chain Quality Inspection
Chain quality needs to be inspected
periodically, to avoid failure:

(i) Links with cracks should be cut out
(ii) In chains with removable studs, worn
or deformed studs should be
replaced
(iii) Check for excessive wear or
corrosion
55
Table 3-10. Table for Renewing
Stud-Link Chain
For 3 chain, renewal dia. = 2 11/16
56
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link
Figure 3-18. Typical wire rope
connection to chain.
57
Wire Rope location for barge
Wire Line
Tensiometers
Mooring
Winches
Outboard
Fairlead
Read tension while moving slowly
58
Station Keeping
Figure 3-20. Drum
Capacity and
minimum drum-to-
sheave spacing
R
d
> 200 d
wire

u = 1.5
o
(smooth)
u = 2.0
o
(grooved)
R
d
59
Figure 3-21. Deck machinery
arrangements for ship-like vessels.
Chain mooring requires a wildcat & chain stopper.
Tension is usually measured with a load cell.
Chain
Stopper
Dual
Wildcat
60
Figure 3-22. Typical chain wildcat and
fairlead locations on a semi.
61
Dynamic Positioning
Dynamic positioning uses thrusters
instead of mooring lines
to keep the vessel above the wellhead.

Glomar Challenger used dynamic
positioning as early as 1968.

The Ocean Drilling Program (ODP)
uses dynamic positioning.
62
Advantages of Dynamic Positioning
(i) Mobility - no anchors to set or retrieve
- Easy to point vessel into weather
- Easy to move out of way of icebergs

(ii) Can be used in water depths beyond
where conventional mooring is
practical

(iii) Does not need anchor boats
63
Disadvantages of Dynamic Positioning
(i) High fuel cost

(ii) High capital cost (?)

(iii) Requires an accurate positioning
system to keep the vessel above the
wellhead.

Usually an acoustic system - triangulation
64
Simple position-referencing system
WH
1
= WH
2

= WH
3
WH
1
= WH
3

WH
2
> WH
1
,

WH
3
W

H
1
H
2
H
3
65
To understand the operating principles
of acoustic position referencing, assume
that:

1. The vessel is an equilateral
triangle.

2. The kelly bushing (KB) is in
the geometric center of the
vessel.
Acoustic Position Referencing
66
3. The hydrophones are located
at the points of the triangular
vessel.

4. The subsea beacon is in the
center of the well.

5. No pitch, no roll, no yaw and
no heave are permitted.
Acoustic Position Referencing
67
Diagram of controller operations.