Rig moves should be carried out by two Marine Personnel. Deviations from this rule can only be authorised by the Marine Manager. The Marine Manager, or his nominated deputy, shall supervise the actual move from the time that the rig is afloat until such time that the rig is pinned down at the new location in an agreed position.
The Field Supervisor has the overall responsibility for all activities executed in his field, including wellhead jackets and of ensuring the well is safe prior to Rig arrival.
Marine Officer
When moving off/on location, one Marine Officer is stationed at the aft end of the rig to observe and report rig movements relative to the location structure (jacket, marker buoys).
One Marine Officer is stationed on the Helideck keeping the towing tug and any marker buoys in sight. The Officer will remain on the Helideck and in radio contact with the tug(s) during the entire move.
The Marine Officer in charge of the move will instruct the tug(s) regarding manoeuvres required for a safe move off/move on. In addition he will:
- liaise with the Drilling Supervisor and agree on the final position of the rig
- work closely with the Senior Barge Engineer or Barge Master, when securing rig, connecting tow, anchor handling, jacking, operating thrusters or requiring the barge to be trimmed
- communicate with the Meteorological Department to ensure that he is in possession of the most updated weather information
- monitor the position of the rig and ensure safe navigation at all times, (in particular when navigating and positioning the rig within the field, to ensure that an adequate clearance is given to all subsea structures and flowlines)
- maintain contact with MR (Doha Marine) and advise progress
- maintain contact with A75, especially overnight on tows to or from the North Field, to check communications
- liaise with the Surveyors on board the rig and/or survey vessel for exact positioning on new location or existing subsea completions if applicable
- during every Rig Move a diving support vessel is delegated to the rig, (the Marine Officer should keep the diving support vessel up to date about timing and progress).
Drilling Supervisor
- be responsible for ensuring that all Company policies and procedures are observed before and during a rig move. He shall act as a liaison between the Drilling Contractor and Company base when necessary
- attend the pre-rig move meeting
- liase with the Marine Officer and agree on the final position of the rig.
- have the overall responsibility for operations on the well head jacket from the time the rig is on location until the rig is ready to move off after concluding the operation. This will include the time period from handing over the well to Drilling until handed back over to Production (see Appendix D - Offshore Well Handover Certificate).
- be responsible for deciding if the jacket and wells are safe and if the rig can move onto/off the well head jacket. He shall sign the Handover Certificate.
- only sign the Handover Certificate when he is satisfied that the jacket is depressurised and is safe in all respects for the rig to move.
- be responsible for determining the pin down position and directing load testing operation of rig prior to commencement of drilling operations.
Platform Development wells
The following table lists the main responsibilities involved in offshore rig moves and site preparation for development wells.
Action |
Execution |
Quality Control |
Approval of concurrent operations on jacket |
Head of Drilling Operations Head of Production Operations |
Field Supervisor Drilling Supervisor |
Engineering activities for jacket preparation |
FS(O) Representative |
Field Supervisor |
Preparation of jacket prior to rig arrival on jacket |
Field Supervisor |
Field Supervisor |
Secure well by plugging prior to rig move |
Wireline Supervisor |
Field Supervisor |
Bleeding down flow lines, gas lift lines and annuli. Removal of choke from bean box. |
Wellhead Maintenance Supervisor |
Field Supervisor |
Drilling operations on jacket including rig arrival / departure |
Drilling Supervisor Drilling Contractor |
Head of Offshore Operations |
Exploration Wells
The following table lists the main responsibilities involved in offshore rig moves and site preparation for exploration wells.
Action |
Execution |
Quality Control |
Request new location |
Operation Engineer |
Drilling Superintendent |
Seabed Survey |
Surveying Contractor |
FS(O) |
Placing maker buoy |
Surveying Contractor |
FS(O) |
Drilling Operations including rig arrival |
Drilling Supervisor |
Drilling Supertintendent |
All Wells
The Marine Department Representative on the Rig has the overall responsibility for the safe approach to positioning at and departure from the wellhead jacket.
The Drilling Supervisor has overall responsibility for determining the pin down position and directing load testing operation of Rig prior to commencement of drilling operations.
Well Handover
The Wellhead maintenance Supervisor is responsible for bleeding down tubing, flowarms and annuli and making required isolations. He will sign the “Handover Certificates” on behalf of Production Department for hand over and acceptance of wells to/from
The Drilling Supervisor has the overall responsibility on deciding if jacket and wells are safe for the rig to move onto/off the wellhead jacket and will sign the “Handover Certificate”.