Member Info for MCB55

McGee, Yes many scenarios possible I guess, but can't see anybody being allowed near the moon pool to fix another swr rope or anything, just too dangerous imho. It would all be operated remotely including the latching. Maybe in years gone by, but not these days surely?

I am sure that the pull in rope is not steel as it needs to be buoyant or at least with buoyancy aids (sleeves) attached (often used on synthetic ropes) unless there is a large surface buoy to keep it up, which I v much doubt! Steel is too heavy for any amount of buoyancy sleeves.

I think the pull in rope is the main load bearing hawser and it was this that was carrying the full weight of the buoy and chains when it failed. Also it failed within a metre or so of the buoy attachment ring as the buoy was about to be latched when it happened! The lightweight leader rope should have well out of the way by that point.

BB I agree in principle, the real question is how do you get the old ragged hawser end off the buoy and a new one fitted? I assume it is attached by a large shackle? Can a ROV do all of this? If the attachment point on the buoy is a ring then maybe better to have a small leader rope threaded through (the eye of the needle!) followed by a heavier one, etc. Is the Olympic Sovereign with a 250 ton crane best to do this? At least the buoy could be raised to the surface and a good attachment made with new hawser?

MII62
It would be great if there was! Which weather site are you looking at?
On windy.com the swell is ok, but overall waves (including wind) are not so good, so hopefully the swell is the main criteria!? On marine meteo I can only see inshore WoS and that looks possible too.
So like you fingers crossed.

I can't imagine that Dr T et al would be onboard for hook up, its more of a marine/mechanical matter and highly variable timing anyway! Once further function testing and certification is done after hook uo, say 2-3 weeks, then for sure they will be onboard for early well back flow and clean up to first oil.

LadySonia,
Agree in principle, need acceptable current conditions plus a 12 hour good forecast to start hook up, but swell doesn't change that rapidly so that come the end of the window it is unlikely to suddenly become impossible, like a cliff edge!

Ladysonia, I would generally agree with you on the weather window. I use marine.meteoconsult and windy.com
, which weather site do use?
I get the voyage time to be ca 5 days, so AM could be there by 21st!

Apart from leak testing the final buoy hook up connection ALL the interconnected control systems and safety systems need to be function tested and certified as a whole working unit, a certificate of completion made and accepted by the certifying authority, handover of system by system to operations and permission to commence hydrocarbon introduction granted by the O&GA. Thereafter opening up of the wells will be slow and progressive to displace and dispose of well completion fluids first, etc.

My judgement would be 1 to 2 months for final commissioning and testing. That is if FOIL Is defined as the first barrel of relatively clean oil onboard. If it is sustained fairly continuous, but low production then another few weeks.

Of course the hook up decision will be between the Captain and the OIM at site and at the time, no BB comment or prediction will alter or influence that! It is merely a BB comment on whats possible, like most of the comments on any subject here.

As a simple statement of guidance that is correct, however the reality is far more complex. Short n choppy 2m wind waves are not as influential as a 2m long swell, due to the volume/weight of water in each wave length.

Yes indeed; could be all winter! Haha
However I don’t really think so; they will need 6 hours to do it and although I don’t know the statistical probability my expectation is maybe a months wait!
Right now the forecast is pretty good for around 21st the due arrival date in the field, so could be really lucky!

AM can hook up with less than 2-3m total sea state, wind waves and swell. Swell iheight and wave length will the main determinant, but it actually is th AM,s response that matters in terms of pitch and roll.

FYI
I use www.marine.meteoconsult.co.uk
Only problem is pin pointing location like you do on windy!!

I can't see any swell/wave height predictions on metcheck.com, only wind!?

Of course a weather forecast is just that a forecast, it is not nailed on, but better a good one than a bad one!

There seems to be a weather window suitable for AM hookup WoS for 21/12++, which is scheduled date for AM arrival on station.
So could be a dream arrival and immediate hook to buoy, with FOIL a month later!!

Hurricane/Bluewater will use a professional paid for marine weather forecasting service, as an amateur I used www.marine.meteoconsult.co.uk to have a look see!
They give a 14 day forecast, which like all forecasts are not 100% accurate, but give a fair idea of whats coming up.
Total seas is the combination of swell and wind waves. There will be Hmax and Hmin outside of the forecast given, but the occasional biggish wave (1 in 7, is it?) should not rock the boat too much, as they are single waves! The swell is the main one that will shift the bulk of the AM up and down and hence be more decisive.

There is no suggestion to reduce quality of work and there never should be, but some of the scope could be done offshore i feel sure! Dr T said they would always keep an eye on the forecast as well.