Structural Engineering

Challenges in MODU to
MOPU Conversion
Project
Thomas Stephen – Director, Ark2Tech
Neethu Narayanan – Director, Ark2Tech
Tomin Mathew – Structural Engineer, Ark2Tech

2nd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON

ADVANCES IN NAVAL & OCEAN ENGINEERING
(ICANOE 23)
 2nd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
ADVANCES IN NAVAL & OCEAN
ENGINEERING (ICANOE 23)

The Process
MODU MOPU
• Drilling Unit  Production Unit
• Remove Drilling Facilities from MODU
• Add Production (Process) Facilities to become
MOPU
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The
Advantage
MODU MOPU
• Works well for Marginal Fields
• Cost-Effectiveness
• Quick Implementation
• Movable & Deploy in Other Locations
 2nd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
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MODU

MOPU

The • Layout

Challenge •
•
Weight Control Engineering
Environmental Conditions
• Dynamic Amplifications
• Soil Conditions at Installation Locations
• Nature of Variable Loads
• Marine Growth Considerations
• Global Hull Strength, Leg Strength
• Jacking System Capacities
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MODU

MOPU

• Layouts are often governed by the requirements

1. Layout of the topside process engineering
• Most of the time structural engineers are forced
to work with what is provided (layout)
• No critical review of the layout wrt structural
stability of the platform
• Importance of Controlling the COG of the
Platform
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ENGINEERING (ICANOE 23)

MODU MOPU

1.1 Layout
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MODU

2. Weight MOPU

Control • Uncertainty of weights at the initial stages of the

Engineerin project
• More equipment/facilities may be added during the
g project
• Not to exceed weight must be monitored thoroughly
• Elevated weight for operational & storm cases are
different for MODU
• No flexibility of MOPU elevated weights
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COG is Very Important !!!

2.1 Weight Ideal Position of COG

Control
Engineerin
g

Most of the Time, COG is Shifted Towards Aft

Side
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COG is Very Important !!!

Actual Position of
2.2 Weight COG Ideal Position of COG

Control Additional Ballast

Engineerin
g Never Anticipated
In the initial weight
control
Elevated Weight
As MODU 7375 MT
When Converted as MOPU 8678 MT

Most of the Time, COG is Shifted Towards Aft

 2nd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
ADVANCES IN NAVAL & OCEAN
ENGINEERING (ICANOE 23)
• Drilling Rigs are never designed for any site-specific
environmental conditions.

3. Site
Specific
Environme
nt Legs are assumed to be pinned 3m below the
seabed
At MOPU Site
Wind 90.4 knots
Wave 13.5 m @ 13s
Current 2 knots (Surface) & 0 knots (Seabed)
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• Usually Dynamic Amplification Factor (DAF) is
estimated using SDOF approach

4. Dynamic As MODU
Elevated Weight
7375 MT As MODU
Natural Frequency
8s

Amplificati When Converted as MOPU 8678 MT When Converted as MOPU

Incident Wave Period

9.25 s

on As MODU
When Converted as MOPU
15 s
13.5 s

Dynamic Amplification Factor (DAF)

As MODU 1.39

When Converted as MOPU 1.99

DAF Need to be applied on to (Wave+Current)

Load Combinations & at the Centre of Elevated
 2nd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
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ENGINEERING (ICANOE 23)
• Drilling Rigs are never designed for any site-specific
soil conditions.
Legs are assumed to be pinned 3m below the
5. Site seabed Penetration Analysis need to be carried out
• Spudcan
Specific as per actual soil parameters
• Actual Penetration Exceed more than 3m
Soil • Seen up to 36m penetration in Indonesian Waters
Conditions for MOPU

100m Water Depth for MODU is Equivalent to

100-36+3 = 67m Water Depth for MOPU
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• Operating Weight and Storm Survival Weight are
different for a drilling rig.
• MODU can shred weight to go to Storm Survival
Mode
6. Variable • MOPU cannot reduce weight
Elevated Weight
during
Operating Storm
a storm

Loads As MODU

When Converted as MOPU

7375 MT

8678 MT
8569 MT

8678 MT

Storm Survival Weights has different meanings in MODU &

MOPU
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• No Marine Growth for MODU
• Marine Growth Could be as high as 150mm for
MOPU
• Drag Coefficient Matters Cd
7. Marine
Member Description Cm

Smooth 0.65 1.6

Growth Fouled 1.05 1.2

Increase in Wave Loads, Current Loads and DAF Loads

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• Any increase in the loads will overload jacking
system
• Cannot upgrade pinion rating easily
8. Jacking • Only option is to increase the number of pinions
• Lead time of procurement is Loading
high
System
Maximum Pinion Allowable Storm
Case
Pinion Rating
As MODU 472 MT 475 MT

Limitations When Converted as MOPU 665 MT 475 MT

Cost and lead Time for jacking system upgrade is high

Moreover, this is generally not anticipated in the initial phase

of construction.
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• Spudcan Reaction will increase
• Loads on Legs will Increase
• Hull Loads will Increase
9. Hull, Leg Spud-can Maximum Vertical Reaction

& Spudcan As MODU

When Converted as MOPU

10141 MT

11448 MT

Strength
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• Wave Loads could be as high as 150%

• Current Loads Could be as high as 400%

9. • Do not believe in Numbers specified in MOM of

Conclusions Drilling Rig when it is chosen for a MOPU
Project

• Must Carry Out Pre-Purchase Engineering

Feasibility Study
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• Thomas Stephen – Director, Ark2Tech

• thomas.stephen@ark2tech.com, 9061630625

• Neethu Narayanan – Director, Ark2Tech

• neethu.narayanan@ark2tech.com, 9747291941

Thank You • Tomin Mathew – Structural Engineer, Ark2Tech

• tomin.mathew@ark2tech.com, 9744580098

www.ark2tech.com