General information
Drilling vessels have always been at the forefront of the developments in the offshore industry, whether it concerns mono hull or semi-submersible vessels. And with operational conditions ranging from drilling to sailing, the optimisation of the performance of this type of vessels is a complex task. In the past drilling vessel were positioned at the field using a mooring system, but as a result of the ever increasing requirements for working water depth most drilling vessels are nowadays equiped with a DP system.
Drilling vessels have always been at the forefront of the developments in the offshore industry, whether it concerns mono hull or semi-submersible vessels. And with operational conditions ranging from drilling to sailing, the optimisation of the performance of this type of vessels is a complex task. In the past drilling vessel were positioned at the field using a mooring system, but as a result of the ever increasing requirements for working water depth most drilling vessels are nowadays equiped with a DP system.
Services & Activities
The Offshore Department has been involved in many drilling vessel model tests and numerical simulations, assessing the motions, mooring loads, DP performance and green water loads.
The Seakeeping Department has been involved in studies investigating the motions of the water inside the moonpool, when the vessel is sailing or during drilling operations.
The Ships Powering Department has been involved in projects where the lay-out of the moonpool was optimised in terms of ship resistance and propulsion.
The Trials & Monitoring Department can be involved in full-scale measurements of motions and loads of these vessels.
The Offshore Department has been involved in many drilling vessel model tests and numerical simulations, assessing the motions, mooring loads, DP performance and green water loads.
The Seakeeping Department has been involved in studies investigating the motions of the water inside the moonpool, when the vessel is sailing or during drilling operations.
The Ships Powering Department has been involved in projects where the lay-out of the moonpool was optimised in terms of ship resistance and propulsion.
The Trials & Monitoring Department can be involved in full-scale measurements of motions and loads of these vessels.
Facilities & Tools
Drilling vessels are tested in the following MARIN facilities :
Drilling vessels are tested in the following MARIN facilities :
- Offshore Basin: DP model tests in combined current, waves and wind
- Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin: model tests in waves
- Deep Water Towing Tank: towing tests
The behaviour of drilling vessels is simulated with the following tools : (DIFFRAC, DRIFTP and DPSIM for MARIN internal use only)
DIFFRAC: 3-D potential theory including wave diffraction
DRIFTP/DBDRIFT: Second order wave excited (drift) forces
WINDOS: Assessment of wind loads on ships and offshore structures
DPCAP: Analysis of thruster capacity in dynamic positioning
DPSIM: Low frequency motion simulation of moored and DP vessels
DRIFTP/DBDRIFT: Second order wave excited (drift) forces
WINDOS: Assessment of wind loads on ships and offshore structures
DPCAP: Analysis of thruster capacity in dynamic positioning
DPSIM: Low frequency motion simulation of moored and DP vessels
Software Sales
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Experience record
The list below gives a review of drilling vessel model tests carried out at MARIN :
The list below gives a review of drilling vessel model tests carried out at MARIN :
- DP FPSO (JIP Izar / FMC Sofec / DnV / MARIN, 2003)
- Wave feed forward DP JIP (to 2003)
- Petrobras P-XIII DP model tests (Petrobras, 1999)
- DS4M drilling vessel (R&B Falcon, 1999)
- Ocean Confidence DP model tests (Diamond Offshore, 1998)
- Saipem 10000 drilling vessel (Saipem / Samsung, 1998)
- AESA M.O.T. (AESA / Navion, 1998)
- Stena Tay DP model tests (Keppel-FELS / Stena Drilling, 1997)
- Discoverer Enterprise drilling vessel (Astano / BP Amoco, 1997)
- Deepwater drilling vessel series (Conoco, 1997)
- C.R. Luigs / Jack Ryan drilling vessels (Global Marine Drilling, 1997)
Most recent papers on drilling vessels presented by MARIN
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
Time Domain Analysis for DP Simulations
Jorrit-Jan Serraris (MARIN), OMAE Conference, Honolulu, 2009
Hydrodynamic Research Topics for DP Semi Submersibles
Cozijn, J.L., Buchner, B. and van Dijk, R.R.T., Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston, 1999
The Hydrodynamic Model Testing for Closed Loop DP Assisted Mooring
Aalbers, A.B. (MARIN) and Merchant, A.A. (Far East Livingston Shipbuilding), Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston, 1996
Jorrit-Jan Serraris (MARIN), OMAE Conference, Honolulu, 2009
Hydrodynamic Research Topics for DP Semi Submersibles
Cozijn, J.L., Buchner, B. and van Dijk, R.R.T., Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston, 1999
The Hydrodynamic Model Testing for Closed Loop DP Assisted Mooring
Aalbers, A.B. (MARIN) and Merchant, A.A. (Far East Livingston Shipbuilding), Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston, 1996
Most recent drilling vessel articles written for MARIN Report
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
Moonpool mysteries
Report highlights several initiatives going on investigating the unknowns of the moonpool including test programmes and a new Joint Industry Project.
Safetrans celebrates 10th anniversary!
With the release of SafeTrans 5 and the active participation of the Safetrans members, it now becomes clear that SafeTrans will be the ‘de facto’ standard for the marine transportation industry. Report outlines a decade of...
Four decades of DP innovation at Transocean
Gurbachan Singh Virk, a Transocean Consultant and formerly Manager of Engineering, Global Marine Drilling Company, has a wealth of experience in the offshore industry and although he hies away from the idea, he is known as one...
New initiatives probe thruster interaction effects
MARIN has a long history in research into the performance of thrusters during Dynamic Positioning (DP) operations. Research on ducted propellers started in the late 1960s (Oosterveld) but a lot of today’s knowledge on...
DP simulations and model testing - on the spot!
MARIN has a long history in Dynamic Positioning (DP) model testing and computer simulations. In recent years there has been increasing interest in the application of DP systems. And in the past two decades the DP performance...
Report highlights several initiatives going on investigating the unknowns of the moonpool including test programmes and a new Joint Industry Project.
Safetrans celebrates 10th anniversary!
With the release of SafeTrans 5 and the active participation of the Safetrans members, it now becomes clear that SafeTrans will be the ‘de facto’ standard for the marine transportation industry. Report outlines a decade of...
Four decades of DP innovation at Transocean
Gurbachan Singh Virk, a Transocean Consultant and formerly Manager of Engineering, Global Marine Drilling Company, has a wealth of experience in the offshore industry and although he hies away from the idea, he is known as one...
New initiatives probe thruster interaction effects
MARIN has a long history in research into the performance of thrusters during Dynamic Positioning (DP) operations. Research on ducted propellers started in the late 1960s (Oosterveld) but a lot of today’s knowledge on...
DP simulations and model testing - on the spot!
MARIN has a long history in Dynamic Positioning (DP) model testing and computer simulations. In recent years there has been increasing interest in the application of DP systems. And in the past two decades the DP performance...
Contact
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with drilling vessels, please contact:
For model test and simulation activities: Offshore Department
Seakeeping Department Ships Seakeeping Department
Ships Powering Department Ships Powering Department
For full-scale measurements: Trials & Monitoring Department
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with drilling vessels, please contact:
For model test and simulation activities: Offshore Department
Seakeeping Department Ships Seakeeping Department
Ships Powering Department Ships Powering Department
For full-scale measurements: Trials & Monitoring Department