OFFSHORE SERVICES

OFFSHORE DRILLING

DET NORSKE VERITAS

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OFFSHORE SERVICES
offshore drilling

Facts
Drilling units classed by DNV (June 1998)
Number and % share of world total:

Semi-submersibles 52 41 %
Heavy duty jack-ups 15 14 %
Drillships 8 24 %

Semis 3rd and 4th generation (delivery 1980 and later) 32 53 %

Another 21 floaters (semis and drillships) are under construction/on order to

DNV class for delivery in the next 13 years. They represent more than 50 % of
the total units under construction/on order (June 1998).

Overview Offshore Field Development Pipeline

Drilling and Production Transportation

This is one brochure in DNVs offshore brochure package. Please refer to one of
our offices on the last page if you would like copies of any other brochure.
Challenges in the
drilling industry
The offshore drilling industry is facing
many new challenges:
Changing regulatory regimes
Increasing water depths
New drilling technologies
Protection of the environment
DNV aims to assist the drilling contractors
in meeting these challenges by offering a
cost-effective approach to classification and
certification, together with a wide range of
consultancy services.
Changing regulatory regimes
DNV is adapting to these changes by
offering cost-effective schemes for
verification of compliance with both goal
setting and prescriptive requirements.
Challenges in the drilling industry
In the U.K. and Norway, DNV is carrying
out verification to a predefined scope
agreed with the client, where classification
forms an important part of the work. The
prescriptive nature of classification,
recognised by builders and equipment
manufacturers, contributes to realistic cost
setting without unforeseen extras.
Increasing water depths
DNV has the greatest experience of any
classification society on the station-keeping
of mobile offshore units. Since their
introduction in 1974, the DNV Rules for
Dynamic Positioning Systems have been
the industry standard, and the basis of the
IMO DP regulations. Today the majority of
DP vessels and semi-submersibles are
classed by DNV. Ongoing research and
development of deepwater technology,
coupled with in-house experience,
underlie new DNV standards on mooring
and riser systems for deepwater
applications.
New drilling technology
Deepwater exploration technology involves
HP/HT well techniques, underbalanced
drilling, horizontal drilling, BOP controls
and riser technology. Remote operation
and automation, including computer-based
control and monitoring systems, are widely
used.
Protecting the environment
Increasing global awareness of the
environment creates new challenges to the
offshore drilling industry. DNV provides a
wide range of services related to assessment
of risks and consequences of drilling
activities on the offshore environment.
CREATES
ADVANTAGE
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OFFSHORE SERVICES
offshore drilling

Classification services
Classification of mobile offshore units is the
basis for Flag State certification and may be
used in verifying compliance with specific Shelf
State requirements.
Many Shelf State Authorities shift from
prescriptive to goal-setting requirements has
had an impact on how the safety and reliability
of a drilling rig is verified. DNV believes that
the most cost-effective solutions are achieved by
combining the two approaches.
The development of new solutions by
combining different technical concepts is
posing challenges to drilling contractors as well
as to national authorities.
An example is the large drillships equipped for
extended well testing and storage of oil. For
these, DNV has developed a flexible approach
based on each individual case, taking proper
account of the storage of oil.
Todays demand for new equipment has
resulted in fast-track projects with a significant
overlap of engineering and construction. DNV
is responding proactively to this challenge by
working closely with the designer and yard so
that the principles of design and approval may
be agreed upon early in the project. DNV
classification facilitates the owners obligation
to national authorities and oil companies to
document compliance with safety and reliability
requirements.
DNV classification:
provides the owner with recognised
documentation to show that safety-critical
details have been verified;
becomes part of the owners quality
assurance, providing traceability to important
safety documentation.

DNV classifies
various types of
mobile offshore
units, such as
column-stabilised
units, self-elevating
units, drillships and
floating production
vessels.
Ensuring quality of
materials, components
and systems
Certification of materials and components is DNVs approach to certification of drilling
normally based on classification requirements, equipment is based on the concept of
recognised codes and standards, and/or categorisation of equipment. This takes into
national regulations. account a criticality evaluation of each item
and the systems/functions it serves.
DNV carries out material and component
certification services for the worlds maritime,
offshore and land-based industries. From being
a supporting activity for classification of ships
and mobile offshore units, the certification
services have been extended to cover a variety
of industry needs.

The DNV system of certification offers a wide

range of services to meet the needs of clients.
The actual certification will vary depending on
the product, vendor requirements, purchaser
requirements and specified regulations, codes
and standards. The DNV certification system is
designed to be flexible enough to provide the
right level of certification. Shortlisting,
tendering and verification can be simplified by
using one or more of the available certification
alternatives.

DNV offers certification for drilling-related

systems and equipment, either as individual
(case-by-case) certification or based on Type
Approval. Typical drilling-related systems that
are covered by additional classification are:
blow-out preventor and control systems
marine risers
heave compensation systems
hoisting, rotation, and pipe handling DNV carries out material and component certification
drilling-fluid circulation services for the maritime, offshore and land-based
blow-out preventor handling industries worldwide.
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well testing.

CREATES
ADVANTAGE

Qualifying for
U.K. Operations
Any offshore installation operating in U.K.
territorial waters must be verified in
accordance with the requirements of British
offshore legislation. A prerequisite for
operation of an installation is to have the Safety
Case accepted by the Regulator, and a Written
Scheme of Examination of the Safety Critical
Elements (SCE) established in order to
demonstrate the suitability of safety
arrangements. This legislation has replaced the
previous Certificate of Fitness (CoF)
arrangements.
Assessing risks
To achieve legislative compliance it is necessary
to meet the requirements of the Safety Case
(Offshore Installations) Regulations and the
accompanying suite of legislation. This states
that it is the responsibility of the duty holder to
maintain the safety-critical integrity of an
offshore installation at all times. The duty
holder is defined as the owner and/or person
who controls the operation of a mobile
installation. The duty holder must prepare a
Safety Case for the installation. In addition, the
regulations require the duty holder to assess the
risks which the installation might face as a
result of fire, explosion and emergency
response, and identify the plant and equipment
which is provided to address those risks, as well
as identifying other parts of the installation that
may cause, contribute to, prevent or limit a
major accident. The objective and purpose of
each of these Safety Critical Elements should be
defined as Performance Standards by the duty
holder. Each of the elements must be
incorporated into a Written Scheme of
Examination, so an Independent Competent
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OFFSHORE SERVICES
offshore drilling
Person (ICP), appointed by the duty holder,
may ensure the continued suitability of the
safety provisions.
Generic database
Within the Written Scheme, duplication of
effort can be avoided by the use of existing
classification arrangements. Typically, around
70 % of the Safety Critical Elements which may
be identified for a classed offshore installation
will be found to be adequately covered by
classification. DNV has developed a generic
database of typical Safety Critical Elements and
Performance Standards, and for classified
installations these fully utilise class rules and
survey requirements.
Extensive experience
Through facilitating the compliance objectives
of many duty holders, DNV has gained
extensive experience in this area, especially
with respect to the full utilisation of
classification to demonstrate the requirements
of the Safety Case. DNV has the necessary
competence and skills to help our clients
through each step of the process, assisting duty
holders in the preparation of Safety Cases and
Written Schemes. DNV is also able to offer the
duty holder ICP services by demonstrating
appropriate independence and competence.
These new service areas utilise existing service
provisions, and therefore save costs. In
addition, both the development and
implementation of such schemes are simplified,
while still maintaining the objectives of
compliance.
Maintaining an asset
throughout its lifetime
Once a rig has entered service, DNVs main Risk Based Inspection (RBI)
objective is to support the owner in running a For an owner wanting to apply RBI as a basis for
safe operation without unscheduled surveys during operation, DNV offers a unique
interruptions. An important part of the DNV combination of know-how and experience that
classification scheme is to provide the can ensure lifetime optimal operation and
systematics for effective assurance of the units maintenance of structure and equipment.
condition at all times.
RBI is decision-making based on risk, or the
probability of failure and its consequences, and
The In-service Inspection Programme (IIP) it provides such features as:
A unique DNV service that has served the
Improved cost
industry for more than a decade is the In-Service
efficiency of
Inspection Programme for mobile offshore units.
inspection
The programme, which is tailor-made for each
resources
individual unit, forms the basis for structural
Balanced focus
inspection at periodical surveys. It incorporates:
on safety and
Sketches with reference numbers describing economic risks,
the unit with structural categories and weld rather than on
connections safety alone
Type and extent of inspection/NDT, Documented
depending on survey and structural category and traceable
Checklists of structural elements programme
Report forms. Systematic use
of empirical
The basis for the IIP with respect to frequency, data as the basis
weld connections subject to inspections and for continuous
type of inspection to be carried out, is to improvement
concentrate on areas and connections where
development of a defect may have the most
serious consequences to safety.
The IIP is being well received by owners, as it
provides:
tailor-made, appropriate control
reduction in unscheduled off-hire
detailed service experience into the system
Classed by DNV, West Epsilon
opportunity for the owner to plan surveys well is one of the worlds largest
in advance jack-up rigs.
a basis for easy reference to structural parts.
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CREATES
ADVANTAGE
 DET NORSKE VERITAS
Det Norske Veritas is an autonomous, independent Foundation
with the objective of safeguarding life, property and the environment. The DNV organisation
comprises 300 offices in 100 countries, with a total of 4,400 employees.

DET NORSKE VERITAS AS carries out classification, certification, quality assurance DESIGNED, PRODUCED AND PRINTED BY DET NORSKE VERITAS EIENDOM AS 9806-041

and in-service inspection of ships, offshore and landbased installations, and has been authorised
by 130 national authorities to perform control on their behalf. The company also offers safety, quality
and environmental consultancy services, as well as risk management, quality assurance and training.

For further information please contact one of the offices below, or on the Internet, http://www.dnv.com/
Oslo (Hvik) Houston London Aberdeen Singapore
Head Office 16340 Park Ten Place, Palace House, Cromarty House, DNV Technology
Veritasveien 1, Suite 100, Houston, 3 Cathedral Street, 6772 Regent Quay, Centre, 10 Science
N-1322 Hvik, Texas 77084-5143, London SE1 9DE, Aberdeen AB11 5AR, Park Drive,
Norway USA UK UK Singapore 118224
Tel: +47 67 57 99 00 Tel: +1 281 721 6600 Tel: +44 171 357 6080 Tel: +44 1224 335000 Tel: +65 779 1266
Fax: +47 67 57 99 11 Fax: +1 281 721 6907 Fax: +44 171 357 7991 Fax: +44 1224 593311 Fax: +65 779 7949

DET NORSKE VERITAS

3000/08/98