Offshore Sheath Arrangement for Dropped Object Confinement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore oil and gas operations face safety risks due to objects being dropped from drilling rigs, which can harm personnel and equipment, and existing solutions do not effectively minimize these risks, especially in areas with close proximity of equipment and restricted access zones.
Innovation Solution
A sheath arrangement is deployed around the upper deck and rig aperture to create a confinement zone, preventing objects from falling between decks and reducing the risk of damage to equipment and personnel, comprising tubular structures that can be rigid, flexible, or a combination of both, and are secured to both the offshore platform and rig.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rig cantilever portion extends over the wellhead platform to enable operations, then operational capability is improved, but the risk of dropped objects harming personnel and equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
A catch arrangement acts as an intermediary safety device between the rig cantilever portion and the wellhead platform. This intermediary structure intercepts dropped objects before they can reach personnel or equipment on the platform, allowing the rig to maintain its extended operational position while eliminating the harmful drop zone risk.
2Reliability
If no-entry zones are established below rig cantilever portions to protect personnel, then safety is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates due to restricted access
Solution Approach 1:
The catch arrangement serves as a mediator that allows personnel to safely access areas previously designated as no-entry zones. By providing passive protection against dropped objects, the catch arrangement removes the need for restricted access zones, enabling continuous operational efficiency while maintaining safety.
3Area of stationary object
If equipment is positioned in close proximity on the wellhead platform to maximize space utilization, then space efficiency is improved, but the risk of equipment damage from dropped objects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catch arrangement acts as a protective intermediary layer between potential dropped objects and the closely positioned equipment on the wellhead platform. This allows equipment to be clustered efficiently for space utilization while the catch arrangement provides a safety barrier that prevents dropped objects from causing damage.
4Reliability
If safety zones are established to prevent dropped object hazards, then personnel safety is improved, but the extent of operational restrictions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catch arrangement provides a passive, always-active safety mechanism that eliminates the need for dynamic safety zone management. Unlike active safety zones that require monitoring and enforcement, the catch arrangement automatically protects personnel without restricting operational freedom, thereby improving safety without increasing operational complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
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.