Ensuring the safety of maritime transportation of drilling fluids by platform supply-class vessel

Abstract

The technology of drilling fluids transportation on the offshore Platform Supply-class Vessel has been considered. It has been established that density stratification of drilling fluid by depth of a cargo tank in the interval of its transportation time of 6–48 h is 4.03–46.29%. The research was carried out in the onboard mud system of a specialized Platform Supply Vessel 5750 tons deadweight offshore vessel. The objective was to improve the drilling fluid transportation system by developing technology to ensure that the density of drilling fluid is maintained at a constant value along the height of the tank while they are being transported by Platform Supply Vessel-class vessels. Using of an additional X-circulation of the drilling fluid in the volume of adjacent cargo tanks has been proposed as such method. Samples for drilling fluid density were taken at different points of the tank.