Application of Advanced Automation Systems in Dynamic Positioning (DP) Applied to Drilling Platform Operations

Abstract

Presently, oil and gas drilling and extraction platforms are being used in many offshore areas worldwide. Some of these units are secured to the seabed in shallow seas, and others use Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems to stay on-station mainly in deep water. Operating a DP system in drilling operations typically requires highly robust advanced control. However, the conventional DP motion control system is incapable of coping with more severe weather conditions and keeping the drilling platform within a safe zone. In addition, the propulsion system is experiencing high wear and tear in thrust distribution, which could lead to thruster failure or power blackout. This research has investigated the potential operational improvements for an intelligent DP system by optimizing the thruster allocation using a Predictive Neural Network (PNN) algorithm. This novel intelligent control strategy has been implemented to a conventional DP system. The conventional DP system was built with a nonlinear Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) motion control for comparing and validating the performance with other similar research results. For evaluating the intelligent DP system capability, a hull of a similar existing semi-submersible drilling platform was modelled to simulate the platform behaviour by using DNV Sesam and WAMIT software. Then, a time-domain DP simulation was performed in three degrees of freedom (DoF) subjected to wind, current and wave loads using MATLAB/SIMULINK software and Marine Simulator System (MSS) toolbox. Finally, the intelligent DP system has been tested by simulating DP drilling operations under extreme weather conditions in the North Sea, Red Sea and Gulf of Mexico oil and gas deep-water fields. Consequently, the novel PNN control approach has improved the conventional DP system's zone-keeping capability with faster recovery due to harsh environmental conditions in drilling operations. In addition, the wear and tear of the thruster force and direction have been reduced and optimized.