Page 65: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jan/Feb 2014)

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Environmental performance clean sheet of paper and no preconceived one time, ensuring that one or more can

Vessels

The propulsion system, matching the ideas, engineers were tasked with design- always be recovered on the lee side.

hull, includes independent, ergonomi- ing a hull, propulsion system, and all

Unique design cally designed, port and starboard engine the other vessel components required rooms. Full redundancy in the propulsion to optimally meet the seismic require- The hull may appear conventional, but and steering systems means that normal ments while making sure that there were it was derived to meet detailed specifca- production can be maintained in the event no compromises in HSE or operational tions for seismic operations. Flensburger of a breakdown, which is important for effciency. Shipyard carried out seakeeping analyses and extensive tank testing, which was production continuation and critical in

People power performed at the facilities of FORCE mitigating safety risk within obstructed

A key feature of the design process, Technology in Denmark. WesternGeco or environmentally sensitive areas. The especially for the back and gun decks, maintained control and owns the vessel propulsion pack is quiet, which benefts was that it involved considerable input design. It also identifed key suppliers seismic data quality and will be wel- comed by the crew. Cabins are designed from experienced equipment users. The with the best knowledge of the needs of to minimize external noise and the extensive WesternGeco HSE knowl-

Computer rendering of funnel is based on a cruise liner edge management database was used

Amazon Warrior, in operation concept that avoids exhaust fumes to evaluate and mitigate potential

Q2 2014 Photo courtesy of

WesternGeco.

on deck.

safety risks identifed from a wide range of industry incidents and les- The newbuild uses only marine sons learned. Workshops were orga- gas oil (MGO), which although nized that brought together design- more expensive, produces lower ers, management, and numerous emissions than standard heavy crew members with up-to-date and oil. It has a low-loss electrical relevant experience of the various power distribution system, energy elements of marine seismic opera- recovery air-conditioning systems, tions. HSE was a top design priority. and energy effcient (variable

The frst Amazon-class vessel is speed) machinery. LED lighting being built in Flensburg, Germany. apart. Companies have implemented a systems provide power, safety and

The shipyard has been using 3D range of strategies to provide suitable maintenance benefts. The vessels visualization technology in its back and gun decks, but all have been are designed to meet DNV CLEAN design processes for more than 12 combined with existing hull designs. Class and CLEAN Design specifca- the seismic industry, while the yard used years. Initial designs were used to create tions and have ICE-1A class winteriza-

A new bottom-up approach its expertise to select suppliers and con- virtual versions of specialist working tion for Arctic operations to Polar Class tractors required for building the vessel. environments, in which crews were able WesternGeco reviewed long-term fore- 7. Benefts include heated handrails,

Specifcations for the “Amazon-class” to provide realistic feedback on prac- casts for E&P activity and decided the reduced risk of heavy ice buildup that vessels include the ability to work world- ticalities such as equipment handling, future of the global seismic market was could cause instability, and avoiding risk wide in all operating arenas, including stepping, handling, and the safe move- suffciently buoyant to support an overall of anchors freezing to the deck. ICE Class frontier areas. They will have a produc- ment of people and equipment. extension its seismic feet. WesternGeco does not necessarily mean that the ves- tion endurance of 120 days, which is The fnal vessel design addresses embarked on a project to design and sel can work in icy waters, as the in-sea important in environmentally sensitive operational and HSE issues in all areas. build a new marine seismic platform equipment could be vulnerable to dam- areas and where resupply may present Seismic and maritime workshops, stores, capable of supporting all of its present age; however, it does enable the vessel challenges. Routine maintenance can and supply handling are all on the same and potential technologies and acquisi- to safely enter a survey area earlier and be done during live operations and the level and as close as possible to the tion techniques for at least the next 10 leave later in a summer season. years while also optimizing operational equipment or machinery being sup- docking interval is fve years.

At 126m (413ft) long, 28-32m (92–105ft) A successful project performance. The company decided to ported. Passages and stairs are designed wide, the vessel provides a large, power- to reduce trips, slips and falls. The main design the new vessel from scratch, hav- The frst Amazon-class vessel is sched- ful and stable platform for forward motion deck is designed and positioned at a ing frst defned its operational require- uled to start operations in Q2 2014. The and maneuverability during operations in height designed to minimize potential ments. This approach is aligned with the second is expected to be in service by inclement weather conditions. The knife- for sea ingress. A new hands-free source Schlumberger philosophy of maintaining Q4 2014. Construction is achieving all shaped bow reduces slamming, helping deployment and recovery system is being competitive advantage through techno- milestones on pre-planned dates, which to maintain streamer control and reduce designed within the Amazon project logical differentiation; health, will result in the new vessels going into noise in the seismic data. There is capacity capable of being retroftted into the safety and environment (HSE) production approximately 12 months for more than 200km of streamers and 18 existing feet. In addition to a helicopter leadership; effciency in different after cutting frst steel. streamer tow points. A “quad-deployment” environments; and a “bottom-up” deck for offshore crew changes, a built-in design enables four steamers to be handled offshore gangway is available for at-sea approach to design. Paul Bidmead is simultaneously. The vessels will be suit- transfer of personnel, avoiding the need While the back and gun decks WesternGeco’s able for a variety of acquisition geometries for small boats. Workboats designed for are designed to ft a hull, this marine marketing including long offset, Coil Shooting, safe, effcient, replacement of streamer project started with defning the manager. He has 22

Dual Coil Shooting, and Continuous Line sections are located in both the port and seismic elements and operational years’ experience in

Acquisition. High streamer capacity and starboard sides of the hull. The davit criteria for the working areas seismic operations ample working space enable at-sea recon- deployment design allows more than through extensive research and and technical fguration of streamers.

one small boat to be retrieved at any analysis. Then, starting with development.

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