TOW-OUT DEVELOPMENT DRILLER I

Project Summary

In 2006, Argonautics Marine Engineering, Inc. was involved in the tow-out of the semi-submersible drilling rig GSF DEVELOPMENT

DRILLER I from the Kiewit Offshore Services yard in Ingleside, TX, to deep water offshore.

The GSF DEVELOPMENT DRILLER I was repaired at the yard after sustaining damage in hurricane Katrina. With its 8 DP thrusters

installed under the rig pontoons, the total rig draft was the same as the water depth in the channels to open water. To ensure

sufficient bottom clearance and avoid damaging these thrusters on the way out, the rig needed to be lifted for the tow-out. A solution

was found by inserting a large cargo barge between the rig pontoons and partly deballasting it to provide the required 1.0 m lift - a

modern version of the old "ship camels" used in Amsterdam in the 17-th century. Special support brackets with softwooden cribbing

blocks were mounted to the barge hull, in line with strong stiffeners inside the rig's cross braces. Time domain analyses were

performed to determine the limiting sea states for towing the combined units offshore and for the barge removal.

On April 9, the GSF DEVELOPMENT DRILLER I supported by the BOABARGE 16 was towed out from the yard through the narrow

La Quinta Channel and Corpus Christi channel to the offshore deep water site for removal of the barge. Early next morning, after

confirmation that the good weather window was holding, the barge was ballasted until the rig was floating on its own and sufficient

clearance was obtained between the barge supports and the rig braces. The barge was then pulled out from under the rig and

deballasted for demobilization.

The project scope included:

A short video showing the results of the MOSES time domain analysis for the combined units in 6 ft bow quartering seas. Requires

Windows Media Player.

A paper on this successful tow-out was presented at the 26th International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering

in San Diego, CA, June 10-15, 2007.

specialists in marine heavy-lift transportation engineering

naval architects

marine surveyors

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Est. 1992

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Feasibility study comparing the various rig draft reduction options;

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Verify suitability of selected cargo barge;

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Design support brackets, guide posts, and cribbing arrangements;

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Provide all procedures, including ballast plans, weather limits, risk analysis, etc.;

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Provide on-site assistance during barge insertion and removal operations.

BOABARGE 16 pulled free from under the DEVELOPMENT DRILLER I

Barge ready for insertion

Rig lifted by barge

Barge supporting rig

Tow-out from yard