Last week MARIN in close co-operation with OceanWaves GmbH and the University of Technology Delft have established a new method to predict vessel motions on board 2 minutes ahead. This capability is paramount for offshore operations which are critically dependent on wave induced motions but only need a short quiescent period to conduct the operation safely.
Examples of such operations are float-over-installation, ROV-handling, lift-on/off and helicopter landing. With the use of smaller vessels for well intervention, drilling, survey and installation, this capability is paramount for safety and workability within the oil and gas industry.
The successful approach comprises remote wave sensing by means of X-band radar data processing, application of an advanced wave propagation model and the use of computed vessel motion characteristics. Critical in this computational method is obviously the time required to conduct the data processing as this decreases the ahead prediction time.
The complete chain of data processing was installed, verified and demonstrated with a monitoring campaign on board an 80 m support vessel operating on DP offshore Norway. By measuring the remote wave condition with a directional wave rider buoy, the local waves with a level gauge radar and the vessel motions in 6 modes by means of a motion sensor unit, a good reference data set was obtained for validating the system.
Results of the On-board Wave and Motion Estimator (OWME) JIP are presented and discussed with the participating companies in the FPSO JIP Week this week in Bilbao.
Results of the On-board Wave and Motion Estimator (OWME) JIP are presented and discussed with the participating companies in the FPSO JIP Week this week in Bilbao.
Information & contact
For more information on OWME, visit the OWME webpage or contact Henk van den Boom.
For more information on OWME, visit the OWME webpage or contact Henk van den Boom.
November 8, 2008