The “Stability and Ballast Control for Mobile Offshore Drilling Units” Course is being offered Gulf Coast Training Technologies as a prerequisite for a United States Coast Guard Offshore Installation Manager, Barge Supervisor, or Ballast Control Operator license for personnel working on Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU) This course will teach stability principles of both Jack-up type Units and Semi-submersible Mobile Offshore Drilling Units to personnel serving aboard these type vessels.
GOAL
Upon successful completion of Gulf Coast Training Technologies aforementioned course, the student will: understand initial stability theory, be able to calculate moments and centers of gravity, calculate draft, list and trim, and understand the concepts of free surface effect. Also, this course will utilize the “Coastal Driller” MOM to emphasize the use of operation manuals in the daily stability operations of a Jackup MODU, and the “Deep Driller” operating manual for operations on board a Semi-submersible MODU. Additionally, roleplaying students will offer insight to effective countermeasures into worst-case and damage Surface Units & Active scenarios for both types of units.

1. Introduction to MODU Stability and Marine Operations

1.1 MODU Types and Characteristics

• MODU classifications including (jack-up rigs, semi-submersibles, drillships, column-stabilized units)

• Stability characteristics including (intact stability, damage stability, operational stability)

• Hull configurations including (displacement hulls, semi-submersible hulls, column designs)

• Operational modes including (drilling mode, transit mode, survival mode, maintenance mode)

• Introduction to IMO MODU Code and SOLAS requirements for mobile offshore drilling units

1.2 Stability Fundamentals

• Buoyancy principles including (Archimedes principle, displacement, waterline area)

• Center of gravity including (vertical center of gravity, free surface effects, load distribution)

• Center of buoyancy including (metacenter, metacentric height, stability curves)

• Initial stability including (righting moment, heeling moment, stability criteria)

• Large angle stability including (GZ curves, range of stability, angle of vanishing stability)

2. Stability Calculations and Assessment

2.1 Hydrostatic Properties

• Hull geometry including (waterplane area, displacement curve, center of buoyancy)

• Hydrostatic curves including (displacement, center of gravity, metacentric height)

• Trim calculations including (longitudinal center of gravity, trim moment, trim angle)

• Free surface effects including (virtual rise in center of gravity, tank arrangements, liquid loads)

• Loading conditions including (lightweight, operational loads, variable loads, consumables)

2.2 Stability Criteria and Requirements

• IMO MODU Code stability criteria including (intact stability, damage stability, severe storm criteria)

• Regulatory requirements including (righting lever curves, area under curves, angle limitations)

• Operational criteria including (drilling operations, transit conditions, survival conditions)

• Weather criteria including (wind heeling, beam seas, combined conditions)

• Dynamic positioning criteria including (station keeping, thruster failure, environmental forces)

3. Ballast Systems and Operations

3.1 Ballast System Design

• Ballast tank arrangements including (segregated ballast, dedicated ballast, tank locations)

• Ballast pumping systems including (pumps, piping, valves, control systems)

• Tank monitoring including (level indicators, overflow systems, alarm systems)

• Ballast water management including (treatment systems, exchange procedures, compliance)

• System integration including (automation systems, remote control, safety interlocks)

3.2 Ballast Operations and Control

• Ballasting procedures including (filling sequences, pumping rates, system monitoring)

• Deballasting procedures including (discharge sequences, environmental compliance, tank cleaning)

• Trim optimization including (longitudinal trim, transverse list, operational efficiency)

• Emergency ballasting including (rapid ballasting, emergency procedures, damage control)

• Operational planning including (ballast planning, weather routing, fuel consumption)

4. Dynamic Positioning Systems

4.1 DP System Components

• Thruster systems including (azimuth thrusters, tunnel thrusters, main propulsion)

• Position reference systems including (GPS, acoustic positioning, laser systems, taut wire)

• Environmental sensors including (wind sensors, motion sensors, gyrocompasses)

• Control systems including (DP computers, joystick control, automatic positioning)

• Power management including (power generation, load sharing, emergency power)

4.2 DP Operations and Control

• Position keeping including (station keeping accuracy, watch circle, position tolerance)

• Thruster allocation including (thrust distribution, redundancy, failure management)

• Environmental compensation including (wind compensation, current compensation, wave drift)

• Operational modes including (auto DP, manual control, follow target, weather vaning)

• Emergency procedures including (thruster failure, power loss, position excursion)

5. Mooring Systems and Operations

5.1 Mooring System Design

• Mooring configurations including (spread mooring, single point mooring, dynamic positioning)

• Anchor systems including (drag anchors, suction anchors, driven piles)

• Mooring lines including (chain, wire rope, synthetic rope, hybrid systems)

• Winch systems including (mooring winches, tensioning systems, monitoring equipment)

• Mooring analysis including (static analysis, dynamic analysis, fatigue analysis)

5.2 Mooring Operations

• Anchor handling including (anchor deployment, positioning, retrieval operations)

• Mooring installation including (pre-lay operations, hook-up procedures, tensioning)

• Mooring monitoring including (line tension, anchor position, watch keeping)

• Mooring maintenance including (inspection procedures, line replacement, anchor maintenance)

• Emergency procedures including (anchor dragging, line failure, weather evacuation)

6. Environmental Conditions and Loading

6.1 Environmental Forces

• Wind loading including (wind speed, wind profile, wind coefficients, gustiness)

• Wave loading including (wave height, wave period, wave direction, wave spectrum)

• Current loading including (current speed, current profile, current direction)

• Combined loading including (wind-wave-current interaction, extreme conditions, design storms)

• Regional considerations including (monsoons, shamals, tropical storms, seasonal patterns)

6.2 Loading Conditions and Management

• Variable loads including (drilling equipment, consumables, personnel, helicopter operations)

• Deck loads including (equipment placement, load distribution, stability impact)

• Crane operations including (crane capacity, load radius, stability limitations)

• Supply operations including (supply vessel operations, cargo handling, personnel transfer)

• Load planning including (loading sequences, weight distribution, stability verification)

7. Stability Monitoring and Control

7.1 Stability Monitoring Systems

• Real-time monitoring including (load cells, inclinometers, draft sensors)

• Stability computers including (loading computers, stability calculations, alarm systems)

• Data acquisition including (sensor integration, data logging, trend analysis)

• Alarm systems including (stability alarms, trim alarms, list alarms)

• Decision support including (stability assessment, operational guidance, emergency response)

7.2 Stability Control Procedures

• Loading procedures including (weight verification, center of gravity control, sequential loading)

• Ballast control including (automatic ballasting, manual control, emergency ballasting)

• Trim control including (longitudinal trim optimization, list correction, heel control)

• Stability verification including (stability calculations, criteria compliance, safety margins)

• Operational limitations including (weather limits, operational windows, abort criteria)

8. Damage Control and Emergency Response

8.1 Damage Stability

• Damage scenarios including (flooding, structural damage, equipment failure)

• Compartment arrangements including (watertight integrity, subdivision, damage stability)

• Damage assessment including (flooding extent, stability impact, survival time)

• Emergency ballasting including (counter-flooding, damage control, buoyancy management)

• Stability calculations including (damaged condition stability, emergency procedures, survival criteria)

8.2 Emergency Procedures

• Emergency response planning including (damage control procedures, emergency stations, communication)

• Evacuation procedures including (muster stations, lifeboat operations, helicopter evacuation)

• Fire emergency including (fire fighting, stability impact, emergency ballasting)

• Man overboard including (rescue procedures, station keeping, emergency response)

• Abandon platform including (evacuation procedures, survival equipment, emergency communication)

9. Weather Routing and Operations Planning

9.1 Weather Analysis and Forecasting

• Weather information including (forecasting services, weather routing, seasonal patterns)

• Environmental criteria including (operational limits, survival conditions, abort criteria)

• Route planning including (weather routing, fuel optimization, safety considerations)

• Operational windows including (weather windows, maintenance windows, transit planning)

• Risk assessment including (weather risk, operational risk, decision criteria)

9.2 Operational Planning

• Transit planning including (route selection, fuel planning, weather routing)

• On-location operations including (positioning, mooring, drilling operations)

• Maintenance planning including (dry dock, repairs, system maintenance)

• Emergency planning including (weather evacuation, emergency response, contingency procedures)

• Resource planning including (crew planning, supply logistics, equipment management)

10. Regulatory Compliance and Certification

10.1 International Regulations

• IMO MODU Code requirements including (stability standards, safety requirements, operational procedures)

• SOLAS requirements including (safety management, emergency procedures, equipment standards)

• Flag state requirements including (certification, inspection, compliance verification)

• Port state control including (inspection procedures, deficiency correction, detention criteria)

• Classification society rules including (structural standards, stability requirements, certification)

10.2 Certification and Documentation

• Stability documentation including (stability booklet, loading manual, trim tables)

• Operational documentation including (operating procedures, emergency procedures, training records)

• Certification requirements including (stability approval, safety certificates, operational certificates)

• Record keeping including (operational records, maintenance records, compliance documentation)

• Audit and inspection including (internal audits, external inspections, compliance verification)

11. Advanced Stability Analysis

11.1 Computer-Based Analysis

• Stability software including (loading computers, stability programs, analysis tools)

• Real-time calculations including (continuous monitoring, automatic calculations, alarm systems)

• Parametric studies including (sensitivity analysis, optimization, design studies)

• Model testing including (tank testing, computer simulation, validation studies)

• Advanced methods including (time domain analysis, frequency domain analysis, coupled analysis)

11.2 Specialized Operations

• Heavy lift operations including (crane operations, deck loading, stability verification)

• Well intervention including (equipment handling, stability impact, operational procedures)

• Harsh environment operations including (ice conditions, extreme weather, survival operations)

• Multi-purpose operations including (accommodation, storage, transportation)

• Future technologies including (hybrid propulsion, autonomous operations, digital systems)

12. Safety Management Systems

12.1 Safety Management

• ISM Code implementation including (safety management system, procedures, training)

• Risk assessment including (operational risks, environmental risks, technical risks)

• Safety culture including (safety leadership, behavioral safety, continuous improvement)

• Training and competency including (crew training, certification, competency assessment)

• Emergency preparedness including (emergency drills, response procedures, equipment maintenance)

12.2 Quality Assurance

• Quality systems including (quality procedures, document control, records management)

• Operational excellence including (best practices, performance monitoring, continuous improvement)

• Maintenance management including (preventive maintenance, condition monitoring, reliability)

• Supply chain management including (supplier qualification, quality control, logistics)

• Performance monitoring including (KPIs, benchmarking, trend analysis)

13. Human Factors and Bridge Resource Management

13.1 Human Factors

• Human error including (error types, error prevention, error management)

• Situational awareness including (perception, comprehension, projection)

• Decision making including (decision processes, cognitive biases, stress effects)

• Communication including (effective communication, standardized procedures, information transfer)

• Fatigue management including (watch keeping, rest periods, fatigue mitigation)

13.2 Bridge Resource Management

• Team coordination including (team roles, communication, workload management)

• Leadership including (authority, responsibility, delegation)

• Resource management including (equipment utilization, information management, time management)

• Error management including (error detection, error correction, error prevention)

• Crisis management including (emergency leadership, stress management, decision making)

14. HSE in MODU Operations

• Process safety management including (hazard identification, risk assessment, safety barriers)

• Occupational health and safety including (personnel protection, safe work practices, training)

• Environmental protection including (marine environment, ballast water management, waste management)

• Emergency response including (emergency procedures, evacuation plans, rescue operations)

• Safety culture including (safety leadership, behavioral safety, continuous improvement)

15. Quality Assurance and Standards

• Quality management systems including (ISO 9001, quality procedures, document control)

• Marine surveys including (classification surveys, statutory surveys, condition surveys)

• Inspection and testing including (system testing, equipment testing, performance verification)

• Certification requirements including (vessel certification, equipment certification, personnel certification)

• Continuous improvement including (lessons learned, best practices, performance optimization)

16. Case Studies & Group Discussions

• Regional MODU operations from Middle East waters including (harsh weather operations, challenging conditions, emergency responses)

• Complex stability scenarios including (damage stability, emergency ballasting, evacuation procedures)

• Dynamic positioning challenges including (thruster failures, position keeping, environmental conditions)

• Operational problem-solving including (stability issues, equipment failures, emergency situations)

• The importance of proper training in ensuring safe and efficient MODU stability and ballast control operations