Bjørnar Aas, PhD.

The Blue Conference 2011

Copenhagen 2.12.2011
Activity at the
Norwegian
continental
shelf

2
3
 Offshore logistics

Upstream logistics Production Downstream logistics

4
 Sandnessjøen Hammerfest

Mongstad

Verdal
Orkanger

Kristiansund
Florø

CCB Norwegian
Stordbase Farsund offshore supply
bases.

Tananger 5
Dusavik
Gulf Of Mexico

6
7
• Only transport alternative due
to the weight and volume of
the majority of the cargo.
• Today more than 1000 vessels
are in use world-wide.

8
9
The Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS)

Upstream logistics: The Norwegian Sea

• In total, about 50 producing oil

and gas fields, together with
an extensive exploration
activity, are supported by eight
larger supply bases along the
coast.

• Today, approximately 50
supply vessels are operating
from the supply bases The North Sea

supplying the installations.

10
TODAY’S CHALLENGE

11
Case: Vestbase 1993
Case: Vestbase 2011
2011
1980

14
 The complexity of the logistic
problem increases significantly!
• Hence, these questions are not straightforward
to answer:
– What vessel sizes should be used?
– How many vessels are needed?
– Should a fleet be uniform or not?
– How fast should the vessels travel?
– Should the routes be fixed or not?
– What loading / unloading capabilities is preferable?

15
Example: Loading / unloading
capability
• What loading / unloading capability should a
vessel possess?
• The problem: weather
– Wind, Wave heights, Currents, Visibility

Wave heights, Heidrun installation, The Norwegian Sea

9.00 Wave height

4 meters
8.00
7.00
Wave hight (meter)

6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
1 1001 2001 3001 4001 5001 6001 7001 8001 9001 10001 11001 12001 13001
Observations January to July 2002 (20 minutes intervals) 16
 Example: Loading / unloading
capability
• Advantages with a high loading /
unloading capability:
– Reduces the uncertainty
• Reduces the probability for shortage costs
• Obtains a higher service level
• Eases planning and scheduling
• Reduces the need for back-up equipment onboard
the installations (less congested installation=
improved HSE)

17
 Example: Loading / unloading
capability

• Is it technical possible?

• Disadvantages with a high loading / unloading

capability:
– More expensive vessels:
• Better DP (dynamic positioning) systems
• “crew-free” deck solutions
• Automatic bulk hose systems

18
 Example: Loading / unloading
capability

There will be a trade-off between the

costs related to developing and building
a vessel, and the logistics’ “system-
savings” of using that vessel as a part of
a supply vessel fleet!

19
 Who should address this trade-off?

• The operators / oil companies?

• The ship-owners?
• The shipbuilders?

20
 It tends to be like this:

Oil company Has to week knowledge about its own

(user) = logistics problems. Technology focused.

Ship-owners
= owner
= Wants versatile vessels which they can
use all over the world. Maximize the life –
time income of the vessel. Technology
focused.

Shipyard
= builder
= Engineers who mainly has a focus on
technical innovations. No logistics
competence.

21
The consequence = The market would only
offers rather uniform vessels with regard to
logistical features, rendering possible only
rather uniform fleet-solutions.

Traditional fleet Alternative fleet

But sometimes a
non-uniform fleet
is better!

22
A lack of logistics competence leads
to suboptimal solutions.

This is costly and do also often leads

to poor solutions with regard to HSE.

23
 MODEX
(Moveable Deck Extender)
• increases the deck capacity with approx. 23 %

24
Thank you for your
attention!
 The presentation is based on:

Aas, B*., Wallace, S. W. and Halskau, Ø. (2009) „The role

of supply vessels in offshore logistics‟, Journal of Maritime
Economics & Logistics, Vol. 11, No.3, pp. 302-325.

*Corresponding author
Bjørnar Aas
E-mail: bjornar.aas@himolde.no
Molde University College
The Norwegian School of Logistics
PO Box 2110
NO-6402, Molde, Norway
 Modex
• How do MODEX™ create value for the end-customer?

• A logistics analysis carried out by Møreforskning Molde

AS in cooperation with:
– Ulstein Design
– Evomec
– StatoilHydro
– Molde University College