Proactive Precision: How Fugro’s Early Warnings System Helped Protect Offshore Assets and Increase Operational Efficiency
Proactive Precision: How Fugro’s Early Warnings System Helped Protect Offshore Assets and Increase Operational Efficiency
Proactive Precision: How Fugro’s Early Warnings System Helped Protect Offshore Assets and Increase Operational Efficiency
Overview
Offshore operations in the Andaman Sea face unique challenges due to strong internal wave activity. These subsurface waves, known as solitons, can have velocities exceeding 3 knots (1.5 m/s), leading to significant operational risks such as rig displacement, equipment stress and operational downtime. In a 2008 drilling campaign, ENI Krueng Mane Ltd collaborated with Fugro to implement the Soliton Early Warning System (SEWS) to address these challenges. By utilizing satellite imaging, real-time buoy data and predictive analytics, SEWS provided timely alerts, thereby reducing risks and optimizing offshore safety.
Overview
Offshore operations in the Andaman Sea face unique challenges due to strong internal wave activity. These subsurface waves, known as solitons, can have velocities exceeding 3 knots (1.5 m/s), leading to significant operational risks such as rig displacement, equipment stress and operational downtime. In a 2008 drilling campaign, ENI Krueng Mane Ltd collaborated with Fugro to implement the Soliton Early Warning System (SEWS) to address these challenges. By utilizing satellite imaging, real-time buoy data and predictive analytics, SEWS provided timely alerts, thereby reducing risks and optimizing offshore safety.
Overview
Offshore operations in the Andaman Sea face unique challenges due to strong internal wave activity. These subsurface waves, known as solitons, can have velocities exceeding 3 knots (1.5 m/s), leading to significant operational risks such as rig displacement, equipment stress and operational downtime. In a 2008 drilling campaign, ENI Krueng Mane Ltd collaborated with Fugro to implement the Soliton Early Warning System (SEWS) to address these challenges. By utilizing satellite imaging, real-time buoy data and predictive analytics, SEWS provided timely alerts, thereby reducing risks and optimizing offshore safety.
A satellite image illustrating internal waves in the Andaman Sea, relevant to the Soliton Early Warning System (SEWS)
A satellite image illustrating internal waves in the Andaman Sea, relevant to the Soliton Early Warning System (SEWS)
The Challenge
Previous drilling campaigns in the Andaman Sea faced significant operational disruptions due to severe soliton activity. These powerful underwater waves caused rig displacements of up to 189 meters, leading to equipment loss and substantial operational delays. Additionally, supply vessels were forced into rigs, anchor chains parted and excessive rig listing occurred, posing serious risks to offshore personnel and infrastructure. A reliable early warning system with a minimum warning period of 10 hours was essential to mitigate these risks, but existing forecasting models proved insufficient.
The Challenge
Previous drilling campaigns in the Andaman Sea faced significant operational disruptions due to severe soliton activity. These powerful underwater waves caused rig displacements of up to 189 meters, leading to equipment loss and substantial operational delays. Additionally, supply vessels were forced into rigs, anchor chains parted and excessive rig listing occurred, posing serious risks to offshore personnel and infrastructure. A reliable early warning system with a minimum warning period of 10 hours was essential to mitigate these risks, but existing forecasting models proved insufficient.
The Challenge
Previous drilling campaigns in the Andaman Sea faced significant operational disruptions due to severe soliton activity. These powerful underwater waves caused rig displacements of up to 189 meters, leading to equipment loss and substantial operational delays. Additionally, supply vessels were forced into rigs, anchor chains parted and excessive rig listing occurred, posing serious risks to offshore personnel and infrastructure. A reliable early warning system with a minimum warning period of 10 hours was essential to mitigate these risks, but existing forecasting models proved insufficient.
An image illustrating offshore rig displacement due to Soliton waves
An image illustrating offshore rig displacement due to Soliton waves
The Solution
To address these challenges, Fugro and ENI Krueng Mane Ltd developed and deployed the Soliton Early Warning System (SEWS) in three phases:
Phase 1: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Desk Study
Analyzed 218 satellite images to identify soliton generation zones, calculate propagation speeds and directions, and determined optimal mooring locations for real-time monitoring.
Phase 2: Real-Time Mooring Deployment
Deployed two SEWS moorings equipped with advanced oceanographic sensors between the soliton generation zone and the drill site to track soliton movement in real time.
Phase 3: Real-Time Monitoring and Early Warnings System
Collected and transmitted data every 10 minutes via satellite to a dedicated web server. Issued soliton warnings, allowing the rig to adjust anchor tensions and ensure stability.
The Solution
To address these challenges, Fugro and ENI Krueng Mane Ltd developed and deployed the Soliton Early Warning System (SEWS) in three phases:
Phase 1: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Desk Study
Analyzed 218 satellite images to identify soliton generation zones, calculate propagation speeds and directions, and determined optimal mooring locations for real-time monitoring.
Phase 2: Real-Time Mooring Deployment
Deployed two SEWS moorings equipped with advanced oceanographic sensors between the soliton generation zone and the drill site to track soliton movement in real time.
Phase 3: Real-Time Monitoring and Early Warnings System
Collected and transmitted data every 10 minutes via satellite to a dedicated web server. Issued soliton warnings, allowing the rig to adjust anchor tensions and ensure stability.
The Solution
To address these challenges, Fugro and ENI Krueng Mane Ltd developed and deployed the Soliton Early Warning System (SEWS) in three phases:
Phase 1: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Desk Study
Analyzed 218 satellite images to identify soliton generation zones, calculate propagation speeds and directions, and determined optimal mooring locations for real-time monitoring.
Phase 2: Real-Time Mooring Deployment
Deployed two SEWS moorings equipped with advanced oceanographic sensors between the soliton generation zone and the drill site to track soliton movement in real time.
Phase 3: Real-Time Monitoring and Early Warnings System
Collected and transmitted data every 10 minutes via satellite to a dedicated web server. Issued soliton warnings, allowing the rig to adjust anchor tensions and ensure stability.
A schematic representation of how the SEWS integrates satellite data and buoy observations
A schematic representation of how the SEWS integrates satellite data and buoy observations
The Impact
During the monitoring period, SEWS identified 327 soliton events at SEWS#1 and 207 soliton events at SEWS#2. Real-time alerts enabled rig crews to take preventive measures, significantly reducing the risk of costly disruptions. The system successfully provided the required 10-hour warning period, ensuring safe drilling operations throughout the campaign. Post-project data analyses verified the accuracy of SEWS, contributing to improved soliton prediction models for future offshore developments.
The Impact
During the monitoring period, SEWS identified 327 soliton events at SEWS#1 and 207 soliton events at SEWS#2. Real-time alerts enabled rig crews to take preventive measures, significantly reducing the risk of costly disruptions. The system successfully provided the required 10-hour warning period, ensuring safe drilling operations throughout the campaign. Post-project data analyses verified the accuracy of SEWS, contributing to improved soliton prediction models for future offshore developments.
The Impact
During the monitoring period, SEWS identified 327 soliton events at SEWS#1 and 207 soliton events at SEWS#2. Real-time alerts enabled rig crews to take preventive measures, significantly reducing the risk of costly disruptions. The system successfully provided the required 10-hour warning period, ensuring safe drilling operations throughout the campaign. Post-project data analyses verified the accuracy of SEWS, contributing to improved soliton prediction models for future offshore developments.
Conclusion
The Soliton Early Warning System (SEWS), developed in collaboration between Fugro and ENI Krueng Mane Ltd., demonstrated the critical role of real-time metocean monitoring in enhancing offshore safety and operational efficiency. By integrating satellite-based analyses, real-time mooring data and predictive warning alerts, SEWS successfully mitigated soliton-related disruptions, protected offshore assets and personnel, and enabled informed decision-making through real-time data.
Conclusion
The Soliton Early Warning System (SEWS), developed in collaboration between Fugro and ENI Krueng Mane Ltd., demonstrated the critical role of real-time metocean monitoring in enhancing offshore safety and operational efficiency. By integrating satellite-based analyses, real-time mooring data and predictive warning alerts, SEWS successfully mitigated soliton-related disruptions, protected offshore assets and personnel, and enabled informed decision-making through real-time data.
Conclusion
The Soliton Early Warning System (SEWS), developed in collaboration between Fugro and ENI Krueng Mane Ltd., demonstrated the critical role of real-time metocean monitoring in enhancing offshore safety and operational efficiency. By integrating satellite-based analyses, real-time mooring data and predictive warning alerts, SEWS successfully mitigated soliton-related disruptions, protected offshore assets and personnel, and enabled informed decision-making through real-time data.
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