Offshore Sheath Arrangement for Dropped Object Confinement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore oil and gas operations face safety risks due to dropped objects from drilling rigs, which can damage equipment and restrict personnel access, especially in close proximity to wellhead platforms where multiple equipment clusters are present.
Innovation Solution
An offshore platform with a sheath arrangement that aligns with the rig aperture to create a confinement zone, preventing objects from falling between decks and reducing the risk of damage to equipment and personnel by confining them within this zone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rig operates alongside a wellhead platform, then drilling and intervention operations can be performed, but the risk of dropped objects damaging equipment and endangering personnel increases
Solution Approach 1:
A cage structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the rig aperture and the wellhead platform. This cage acts as a mediator that intercepts and contains dropped objects, preventing them from reaching the platform deck and equipment below while allowing drilling operations to proceed normally.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage structure converts the harmful effect of dropped objects into a contained event within the cage. Instead of objects causing damage on the platform, they are confined to the cage where they cannot harm personnel or equipment, effectively transforming a safety hazard into a controlled situation.
2Reliability
If personnel access zones are restricted below rig cantilever portions, then safety is improved, but operational flexibility and personnel access are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cage structure serves as a protective intermediary that enables personnel to safely access areas previously designated as no-entry zones. By containing dropped objects within the cage, the system removes the safety justification for restricting access, allowing personnel to work in these areas without compromising safety.
3Area of stationary object
If equipment is positioned in close proximity on the platform, then space utilization is improved, but the risk of damage from dropped objects is compounded
Solution Approach 1:
The cage structure transforms the risk associated with close equipment positioning by containing dropped objects before they can affect multiple pieces of equipment. The harm that would have been compounded by proximity is now isolated within the cage, allowing efficient space utilization without proportionally increased risk.
4Reliability
If a sheath arrangement is added to confine dropped objects, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cage structure employs a shell-based design that provides effective confinement without requiring complex mechanical systems. The cage acts as a simple yet effective barrier that contains dropped objects while maintaining structural integrity, achieving safety improvement with minimal added complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An offshore platform for use in combination with an offshore rig comprises an upper deck defining an upper deck aperture which is alignable with a rig aperture of the offshore rig, when said offshore rig extends over the upper deck, to permit objects to extend between the offshore rig and through the upper deck. The offshore platform further includes a sheath arrangement aligned with the upper deck aperture and extending upwardly relative to the upper deck to be alignable with the rig aperture, wherein the sheath arrangement defines a confinement zone for confining objects which pass downwardly from the offshore rig through the rig aperture.