Emergency response for mobile offshore drilling unit in storm season
Abstract
According to the Vietnam National Centre for Hydro – Meteorological Forecasting’s data, every year there are approximately ten storms and tropical depressions operating in the East Sea, of which four storms and two tropical depressions directly affecting the mainland of Vietnam. The high frequency of severe storms directly affects the safety and operation of offshore drilling rigs, endangers the staff working on the rig and causes damage to properties and pollution of offshore environment due to oil spills or loss of well control, especially drilling activities must stop suddenly when the storm comes. It is, therefore, necessary to have an effective emergency response solution for mobile offshore drilling units (MODU) at oil fields in Vietnam's sea to quickly handle anticipated and emerging situations to ensure the safety of equipment and people and minimise the risk of environmental pollution.
The article provides the necessary recommendations for storm rescue and evacuation of rig crews, selection of towing vessel suitable for pulling trusses in case of an emergency, and evacuation of the rig out of the impacting areas based on the experience of operating mobile drilling platforms of PV Drilling and international drilling contractors operating in Vietnam’s waters.
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