Abstract
Abstract The petroleum industry, over the past 20 years, has increased its capability to drill in rough ocean environments by developing the semi-submersible type hull form drilling vessel. This paper presents the past history, present achievements, and predicts the future of the semi-submersible hull form. The petroleum industry is experienced in using the column-stabilized semi-submersible (SSM) to drill and survive severe ocean storms in which other marine vessels either go to sheltered water or run from the storm. Two recent major accidents, the OCEAN RANGER and the ALEXANDER KIELLAND, involving the SSM hull form have resulted in a re-examination of inspection and regulation requirements. This paper describes some of the actions that designers, operators, classification societies and the petroleum industry are taking to insure that accidents like these two do not occur again. The impact of these accidents on worldwide usage of existing and future SSMs is also discussed. The conclusion of this paper outlines design modifications which are required for safe worldwide use of the SSM and includes topics such as structural redundancy, reserve buoyancy, secondary ballast and lifesaving facilities.
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