[QUOTE=anchorman;31289]a ROV is on bottom pumping with a hot stab.[/QUOTE]
For those amongst us that don’t know much about BOP’s, what’s a hot stab?
Hot Stab is basically a hydraulic connection done at significant depth by the ROV to close a set of rams on the BOP stack when the remote BOP control unit fails to operate the hydraulic mechanism.
[QUOTE=CMA_Decky;31293]For those amongst us that don’t know much about BOP’s, what’s a hot stab?[/QUOTE]
http://www.lmts-eng.com/Portals/0/finished%20hotstab.JPG
The ROV has the male “hot stab” and they pump a type of Bardex hydraulic fluid into the female side, from the male stinger - this actuates certain functions at depth…close valves, etc…
The Damon Bankston just docked in Fourchon. Buses are waiting to transport the people.
Thanks for your updates Anchorman. I’m an ex-Reading & Bates employee which is the drilling company that originally built and owned the Horizon and her sister-ship, the Nautilus. I’m still in the business and heard about the incident this afternoon when I awakened for my night tour out here in the GoM. Many of my ex-R&B colleagues from around the world have been emailing me to get details. Your info has been great. The “news” that is available elsewhere has been from people who don’t know much about our industry but want all of us to know that they are the ones that “broke” the story.
Thanks anchorman and reync
Anchorman, thank you for the updates. I was Captain of the DWH until a few months ago, there are several DWH vets here in Singapore, and we appreciate the info.
Is she drifting yet? I’m amazed she’s stayed put so long. There are no bitts or fairleads on deck, just on the pontoon top, and the tow bridle was removed years ago (it was chaffing on the hull). You’ll have to lasso a column or something to get a hold of her.
UserGOM: Her lifeboats have no hardmounted radios. The portables were on the Bridge and in the ECR. Did they launch all four boats?
I know anchorman has to get some sleep but does anyone have any updates?
Orniphobe - does the DWH have an anchor winch per corner? Did the chain lockers have sealing devices like on the TOI Richardson - hydraulic activated rubbers to seal around chain or wire? If the chain lockers hit the water…
We are watching this closely from London. Some of our US contracted support vessels are out there supporting the emergency response. Thoughts are with the injured and missing and their families.
The Horizon is a DP Vessel with 8 thrusters, No Anchors at all. I know it’s hard to believe, but the only thing keeping her on location now is her connection to the riser.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]774[/ATTACH]
Got this image this morning, from one of the supporting vessels, not a good view. My prairs goes out to the missing men and family’s
The thoughts and prayers from folks throughout our industry are with the crews and their families. Thank you Anchorman for keeping everyone informed with crediable information.
Any survivor stories yet? Are they speaking out about getting off the rig ?
[QUOTE=MODU Chief;31305]The Horizon is a DP Vessel with 8 thrusters, No Anchors at all. I know it’s hard to believe, but the only thing keeping her on location now is her connection to the riser. [/QUOTE]
I know she’s dp, but most dp rigs/ships have at least two anchors, Express series has at least 4 but wire I think instead of chain. If she doesn’t have any, then R&B were cutting cost at the end of construction, since the Nautilus, moored, has eight fitted to her hull.
First survivor accounts here:
http://blogs.chron.com/newswatchenergy/archives/2010/04/it_blew_out_and.html
userGOM,
My recollection is that Nautilus is not a ‘twin’ to Horizon – she’s not DP, only anchors, and has now been retro-fitted with an additional 4 (totalling 12 last time we used her to drill a well) to meet current MMS regs. The two anchors you refer to cannot be used in the deepwater while drilling, only for true mooring capability in shallower waters.
[QUOTE=rockman;31312]userGOM,
My recollection is that Nautilus is not a true ‘twin’ to Horizon – she’s not DP, only anchors, and has now been retro-fitted with an additional 4 (totalling 12 last time we used her to drill a well) to meet current MMS regs. The two anchors you refer to cannot be used in the deepwater while drilling, only for true mooring capability in shallower waters.[/QUOTE]
That is a big negative on that information. The Nautilus has held the record for deepest moored rig…around 9,000 feet deep AC 857. The DeepWater Nautilus only had two thrusters - that were lost when the rig ran aground during hurricane Rita. We were setting VL anchors for the Nautilus just south east of the Horizon. The Nautilus can be moored to the extent of modern technology of their drilling package.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]776[/ATTACH]Latest photos from the Air.[ATTACH=CONFIG]775[/ATTACH]
yeah I know, I worked for Dix Field, Sonat, TSF, TOI, marine dept on a moored vessel until I went consulting. Unless you drift doing a thruster change out, go to the yard, you need AN ANCHOR or two to do SPS, 5 year survey work for ABS or DNV, depending on how you do CMS and other survey items.
The point has been down flooding of chain lockers if she had an anchor or two.
[QUOTE=userGOM;31309]I know she’s dp, but most dp rigs/ships have at least two anchors, Express series has at least 4 but wire I think instead of chain. If she doesn’t have any, then R&B were cutting cost at the end of construction, since the Nautilus, moored, has eight fitted to her hull.[/QUOTE]
NO DP RIG has anchors capable of being dropped in 5000’ foot of water, what anchors the horizon has are for PORT. The NAUTILUS had all it’s anchors removed in Galveston and the Harbor Pilot had a real fit when he realized he was in charge of a boat being towed in the harbor that didn’t have ANY anchors, i mean he had a REAL fit in the Pilot House, red faced and big eyed fit, told R&B they would NEVER bring anything into Galveston again.