ENSCO 8506 (problems)

[LEFT]Offshore Rig Tilts, Anadarko Halts Ops in GOM[LEFT]
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Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has suspended operations on an offshore drilling rig Tuesday after being hit by a large storm wave in the Gulf of Mexico at around 3 a.m., John Christiansen, Anadarko’s director of External Communications, told Rigzone. The incident happened about 130 miles from Galveston.Large waves associated with a recent cold front caused the ENSCO 8506 (UDW semisub) to drift a short distance off location and take on water in a ballast tank inside one of the semisub’s four columns. Rig is stable on even keel, pumps keeping with water ingress, reported USCG Houston. Situated in 3,571 feet of water, the deepwater drilling rig wasn’t engaged in any drilling and didn’t have any oil products on board when a weather front moved through the East Breaks 645 block rocking the facility, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.Anadarko said 116 crew members are accounted for and uninjured and there have been no evacuations.USCG planes and Coast Guard Cutter Skipjack are monitoring the[/LEFT][/LEFT]

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I wonder how many licensed mariners they actually had onboard prior to the storm! I would suspect not one of the DPOs on the bridge are licensed, nor had any advanced meteorology. ENSCO better shape up with their lack of mariner support on these rigs, before they have an incident that leaves many dead and injured.

you know the DPOs don’t usually even sit in front of facing the console even when connected which they weren’t in this circumstance. They just trust the alarms to warn them that some action needs to be taken. I can see those fingerprints all over this incident.

[QUOTE=c.captain;135636]you know the DPOs don’t usually even sit in front of facing the console even when connected which they weren’t in this circumstance. They just trust the alarms to warn them that some action needs to be taken. I can see those fingerprints all over this incident.[/QUOTE]

I agree 100%, another reason why there needs to be more regulations regarding these MODU’s. I have never figured out how ENSCO can circumvent the MMC typical on other MODU’s.

Now this would be interesting to see the failure mode … Breach of SWB tank?

[QUOTE=PDCMATE;135635][LEFT][B]Offshore Rig Tilts, Anadarko Halts Ops in GOM[/B]

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Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has suspended operations on an offshore drilling rig Tuesday after being hit by a large storm wave in the Gulf of Mexico at around 3 a.m., John Christiansen, Anadarko’s director of External Communications, told Rigzone. The incident happened about 130 miles from Galveston.Large waves associated with a recent cold front caused the ENSCO 8506 (UDW semisub) to drift a short distance off location and take on water in a ballast tank inside one of the semisub’s four columns. Rig is stable on even keel, pumps keeping with water ingress, reported USCG Houston. Situated in 3,571 feet of water, the deepwater drilling rig wasn’t engaged in any drilling and didn’t have any oil products on board when a weather front moved through the East Breaks 645 block rocking the facility, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.Anadarko said 116 crew members are accounted for and uninjured and there have been no evacuations.USCG planes and Coast Guard Cutter Skipjack are monitoring the[/LEFT]
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I wonder how many licensed mariners they actually had onboard prior to the storm! I would suspect not one of the DPOs on the bridge are licensed, nor had any advanced meteorology. ENSCO better shape up with their lack of mariner support on these rigs, before they have an incident that leaves many dead and injured.[/QUOTE]
heaven forbid if they were all licensed you would have a Shell Kulluck outcome wouldnt you?

Anyone know how large the wave was? That front was blowing onshore with 60kn gusts. I would bet that during a situation like that the DPO was on point. If he or she wasn’t they should clear out the entire management of that rig. As far as more regulations, you are only speculating on what happened out there. Don’t call for more regulation on speculation.

so it appears that the rig was connected at the time of this massive wave hitting but wasn’t drilling

[B]USCG overseeing response after massive wave hits Ensco semisubmersible in deepwater Gulf of Mexico[/B]

04/16/2014

HOUSTON — The U.S. Coast Guard is overseeing response efforts for the Ensco 8506 semisubmersible that began taking on water into a ballast tank after a large wave hit the deepwater rig in heavy seas about 130 mi south of Galveston. There are no reports of injuries or pollution, according the USCG Petty Officer Wanda Emery.

On Tuesday, April 14 morning, the USCG received a report that the rig had been damaged, causing one of the rig’s column ballast tanks to take on water. The capacity of the ballast pumps onboard are keeping up with the ingress of water in the column ballast tank. The rig is maintaining an even keel and remains in a stable position without resorting to using the emergency pumps, or performing an emergency disconnect from the riser.

The rig was conducting exploratory operations for Anadarko Petroleum and did not have any crude oil onboard from drilling operations.

The drilling rig is operating in deepwater Gulf of Mexico at 3,800-ft water depth and was not conducting actual drilling operations when the incident occurred. All rig operations have been suspended and preparations are being made for normal disconnect procedures, if necessary to make repairs.

The Coast Guard has deployed the Coast Guard Cutter Skipjack, homeported in Galveston, and an aircrew aboard an HU-25 Falcon airplane from Air Station Corpus Christi to provide on-site intelligence and to assist if necessary.

I still don’t understand how being blown off the well center would cause a ballast tank to flood. Even if water went through a vent, it should not have been that much water to cause a big list? WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED ON THERE ON TUESDAY?

12 foot seas might seem quite “massive” if you were paddling in a canoe.

I don’t know. Is it possible that she could have over ridden the riser, and could that have punctured the ballast tank?

What else, Defective structure of the ballast tank?

[QUOTE=Number360;135726]Anyone know how large the wave was? That front was blowing onshore with 60kn gusts. I would bet that during a situation like that the DPO was on point. If he or she wasn’t they should clear out the entire management of that rig. As far as more regulations, you are only speculating on what happened out there. Don’t call for more regulation on speculation.[/QUOTE]

Regulations, maybe I should I have said oversight. Not sure if you understand how ENSCO crews these 8500 series rigs. I still cant figure out how ENSCO circumvents the normal manning requirements for DP MODUs, and can get away with it. Anyone from ENSCO want to enlighten?

[QUOTE=PDCMATE;135747]Regulations, maybe I should I have said oversight. Not sure if you understand how ENSCO crews these 8500 series rigs. I still cant figure out how ENSCO circumvents the normal manning requirements for DP MODUs, and can get away with it. Anyone from ENSCO want to enlighten?[/QUOTE]

I know that as of Jan. 1, the USCG demanded a master and one OICNW on the bridge at all times. Liberia concurred and changed the safe manning certificate. The rigs are still nonselfpropelled MODUs even though they transit from location to location with their own thrusters. Spent a lot of time on them in the past (including the 8506) but not since last year so do not know how the bridge operations may have changed with this new scrutiny. I was always appalled at the lack of constant situational awareness on the bridge. They even had a TV going up there! Not my job or place to say a word…I was just a highly paid weatherman.

If this incident can be partly attributed to the lack of awareness be sure that there will be more changes demanded. The USCG was not happy at how those rigs were operated.

[QUOTE=PDCMATE;135747]Regulations, maybe I should I have said oversight. Not sure if you understand how ENSCO crews these 8500 series rigs. I still cant figure out how ENSCO circumvents the normal manning requirements for DP MODUs, and can get away with it. Anyone from ENSCO want to enlighten?[/QUOTE]

what deviation from manning reqs are you referring to?

It’s Liberian Flag. I’ve been abd. There are no shortage of licensed people abd compared to a previous 6th gen drillship I was working on. The license rack in the passageway outside helo lounge was full of a lot of licenses. Being a Semi-Sub I would be surprised (but can not confirm) if it did not have credentialed BCOs on its flag state COI. (however,I do not know if Liberia has such a license/endorsement) Some Semi-Subs simply have to dedicated BCO because of bridge layout. DPOs can not mind both stores if BC console is too far from DP console. DODI Ocean Confidence is good example of that.

Once again, though, normal manning reqs of all kinds of various flag states are often well short of actual people abd. Judging by the lengthy license rack on the 8506 I’ll confidently wager money on them being above the Liberian COI. The last drillship I was on was no different. 1 Master, 1 Chief Mate, 2 OICNW, a few ABs.

BTW, Anadarko doesn’t have anywhere near the stringent reqs as other majors such as BP, Chevron, etc. You can be hired as a DPO for Ensco (NOT trainee) as long as you have 80+ days of DP drill time and both classes, and at least 2M liicense. That I can confirm, but I bet you it is only applicable to assets drilling for Anadarko. Also, Anadarko has NO req for 2 mates on watch on OSV contracted to them. They are the modern day cowboys of oil majors drilling in deep water.

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[QUOTE=Johnny Canal;135762]what deviation from manning reqs are you referring to?

It’s Liberian Flag. I’ve been abd. There are no shortage of licensed people abd compared to a previous 6th gen drillship I was working on. The license rack in the passageway outside helo lounge was full of a lot of licenses. Being a Semi-Sub I would be surprised (but can not confirm) if it did not have credentialed BCOs on its flag state COI. (however,I do not know if Liberia has such a license/endorsement) Some Semi-Subs simply have to dedicated BCO because of bridge layout. DPOs can not mind both stores if BC console is too far from DP console. DODI Ocean Confidence is good example of that.

Once again, though, normal manning reqs of all kinds of various flag states are often well short of actual people abd. Judging by the lengthy license rack on the 8506 I’ll confidently wager money on them being above the Liberian COI. The last drillship I was on was no different. 1 Master, 1 Chief Mate, 2 OICNW, a few ABs.

BTW, Anadarko doesn’t have anywhere near the stringent reqs as other majors such as BP, Chevron, etc. You can be hired as a DPO for Ensco (NOT trainee) as long as you have 80+ days of DP drill time and both classes, and at least 2M liicense. That I can confirm, but I bet you it is only applicable to assets drilling for Anadarko. Also, Anadarko has NO req for 2 mates on watch on OSV contracted to them. They are the modern day cowboys of oil majors drilling in deep water.[/QUOTE]

ENSCO still hires unlicensed DPO’s, from what I am aware of?

If my memory serves, wasn’t it one of the 8500 rigs that during Hurricane Katrina, they evacuated all personnel, placed the rig on autopilot with a shadow (OSV) nearby and called it a day?

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ENSCO still hires unlicensed DPO’s, from what I am aware of?

If my memory serves, wasn’t it one of the 8500 rigs that during Hurricane Katrina, they evacuated all personnel, placed the rig on autopilot with a shadow (OSV) nearby and called it a day?[/QUOTE]

i don’t know about Katirna stuff.

There is nothing preventing ANYONE from hiring an unlicensed DPO, as it is not required that they be licensed. they are only bound to cover the COI and make client happy. There are more than a few unlicensed, completely uncredentialed DPOS and SDPOs working at Transocean. No one is putting any real pressure on those guys to get licenses. the SDPOS make about 200K annual. why in the world would they even bother getting a license at that point, they won’t make a dime more with it.

[QUOTE=Johnny Canal;135767]i don’t know about Katirna stuff.

There is nothing preventing ANYONE from hiring an unlicensed DPO, as it is not required that they be licensed. they are only bound to cover the COI and make client happy. There are more than a few unlicensed, completely uncredentialed DPOS and SDPOs working at Transocean. No one is putting any real pressure on those guys to get licenses. the SDPOS make about 200K annual. why in the world would they even bother getting a license at that point, they won’t make a dime more with it.[/QUOTE]

I understand that, your not telling me anything I don’t already know. There are really only two companies left that will place an unlicensed DPO into position (ENSCO and TOI) at this point. Regardless of the MMC/COI it behooves a company to hire or place them into a position that should be required with licensed officers. This is not what I am arguing, because everyone knows on here thats what it should be, in todays hiring process. 90% of current Drilling contractors are requiring a OICNW for a ADPO and up position.

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ENSCO is behind the times. Why do you think they call their drillships DS-###, they want their units to be as far away from anything Maritime related, and would rather be considered closer to a barge that is ship shaped. That is a fact. Pride actually had good names for their drillships and then ENSCO destroyed it with their horrible designations, because they are old school and want nothing to do with mariners. I would place Noble ahead of ENSCO at this point with being mariner friendly.

Isnt the double catch 22on a modu that you get on without a ticket but cant get the seatime to get one?
If thats true anyone that does have a ticket should lose it after being soley on a modu for 5 years.
Coz sure as sh1t you aren’t getting the skills to call yourself a mariner if your career is based on modu time.

[QUOTE=powerabout;135778]Isnt the double catch 22on a modu that you get on without a ticket but cant get the seatime to get one?
If thats true anyone that does have a ticket should lose it after being soley on a modu for 5 years.
Coz sure as sh1t you aren’t getting the skills to call yourself a mariner if your career is based on modu time.[/QUOTE]

Can you please define all the skills needed to call yourself a mariner?

Having done a voyage longer than one you dont measure in feet
AKA watch circle

[QUOTE=powerabout;135778]Isnt the double catch 22on a modu that you get on without a ticket but cant get the seatime to get one?
If thats true anyone that does have a ticket should lose it after being soley on a modu for 5 years.
Coz sure as sh1t you aren’t getting the skills to call yourself a mariner if your career is based on modu time.[/QUOTE]

Wrong.

DP MODU has no limitations for license advancements with USCG. AS PER USCG reply to IADC query.

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[QUOTE=PDCMATE;135769]I understand that, your not telling me anything I don’t already know. There are really only two companies left that will place an unlicensed DPO into position (ENSCO and TOI) at this point. Regardless of the MMC/COI it behooves a company to hire or place them into a position that should be required with licensed officers. This is not what I am arguing, because everyone knows on here thats what it should be, in todays hiring process. 90% of current Drilling contractors are requiring a OICNW for a ADPO and up position.

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ENSCO is behind the times. Why do you think they call their drillships DS-###, they want their units to be as far away from anything Maritime related, and would rather be considered closer to a barge that is ship shaped. That is a fact. Pride actually had good names for their drillships and then ENSCO destroyed it with their horrible designations, because they are old school and want nothing to do with mariners. I would place Noble ahead of ENSCO at this point with being mariner friendly.[/QUOTE]

All the drilling contractors are behind the times. They view licenses as a necessary evil; we are lower than dirt to them. When the shit hits the fan who is going fall to the axe first the “Capt” or the OIM, the C/E or the Toolpusher?

Not a trick question.

Make no mistake, I’m not a waving a banner for any of them.

[QUOTE=powerabout;135780]Having done a voyage longer than one you dont measure in feet
AKA watch circle[/QUOTE]

I have done plenty of voyages longer than many mariners on conventional ships on DP MODUs. So, lets take license away from MSC people on reserve ready ships that sit in harbor for years. Might as well take licenses away from pilots, since they are technically consultants and not assigned to any vessel, why do they need a license anyway? Why stop there, might as well make sure every OSV guy has a limited license because those vessels can drive themselves. Cruise Ships, they have so many officers onboard, only half really need a license, because the other half are on there to look pretty in their tropical whites.