Abstract: An offshore platform for use in combination with an offshore rig comprises an upper deck defining an upper deck aperture which is alignable with a rig aperture of the offshore rig, when said offshore rig extends over the upper deck, to permit objects to extend between the offshore rig and through the upper deck. The offshore platform further includes a sheath arrangement aligned with the upper deck aperture and extending upwardly relative to the upper deck to be alignable with the rig aperture, wherein the sheath arrangement defines a confinement zone for confining objects which pass downwardly from the offshore rig through the rig aperture.

Abstract: A blowout preventer system includes a lower blowout preventer (BOP) stack including a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package (LMRP) including a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system, wherein the blowout preventer system further includes at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system. In this way, an improved blowout preventer system is provided.

Abstract: the present invention relates to a blowout preventer system comprising, a lower blowout preventer (BOP) stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package (LMRP) comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system, wherein the blowout preventer system further comprises at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system. In this way, an improved blowout preventer system is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of an offshore drilling rig comprising: a drill floor (107) defining a well center (123); a hoisting system configured to advance a tubular string (128) downwards through the well center (123) and to the seafloor (124) and to apply a lifting force to a tubular string (128) extending through the well center (123) and to the seafloor (124), the lifting force being large enough to support at least a major part of an apparent weight of the tubular string (128); and an anti-recoil system (218) configured to cause, in case of a sudden reduction of a load suspended from the drilling rig, the hoisting system to raise the tubular string (128) while preventing damage to the hoisting system.

Abstract: An offshore drilling rig includes a drill deck, at least one primary well center and a diverter system arranged below the primary well center, a drilling support structure extending upwardly from the drill deck and above the primary well center and the other work center and a first and a second hoisting system supported by the drilling support structure and being adapted for raising or lowering a first and a second load carrier, respectively, and where the offshore drilling rig includes a positioning system adapted for selectively positioning at least the first load carrier in at least a first or a second horizontal position different from the first horizontal position, where the first load carrier in the first horizontal position is positioned above the primary well center, and in the second horizontal position is positioned above the other work center.

Abstract: A method for operating a microgrid electric power generation system includes delivering energy to an electric power bus at least partially from one or more kinetic generators electrically coupled to the electric power bus, controlling the one or more kinetic generators in response to a change in a load such that a magnitude of a voltage on the electric power bus remains within a predetermined voltage range, and controlling one or more combustion generators electrically coupled to the electric power bus based at least in part on an operating state of the one or more kinetic generators. The one or more kinetic generators are capable of (a) delivering energy stored therein to the electric power bus, and (b) storing energy in kinetic form.

Abstract: A power generation and distribution system for a drilling rig includes (1) an AC bus and a DC bus, (2) an AC generator electrically connected to the AC bus, (3) an AC bus load electrically connected to the AC bus, (4) a first power transformer configured to convert a plurality of voltage phases of the AC bus into a plurality of corresponding secondary side voltage phases, (5) a first unidirectional AC-DC power converter connected between the secondary side voltage phases of the first power transformer and the DC bus, (6) one or more DC bus loads connected to the DC bus, and (7) a second AC-DC power converter connected between the DC bus and at least one of an auxiliary transformer winding of the first power transformer and a second power transformer for supplying power from the DC bus to the AC bus.

Abstract: An offshore well-processing system includes a mobile offshore drilling unit and a remote well-processing device configured to be positioned on an offshore platform different from the mobile offshore drilling unit, the mobile offshore drilling unit defining at least one well center and comprising at least one primary drill rig including at least one drill floor and at least one hoisting system for raising and lowering tubular equipment through the at least one well center from/into a well in the seafloor. The mobile offshore drilling unit and the remote well-processing device are configured to be operationally coupled to each other; and the mobile offshore drilling unit is configured to assist in performing concurrent well-processing tasks on respective wells, including the first well processing task performed by the remote well-processing device on a first well and a second well-processing task concurrently performed by the offshore well-processing system on a second well.

Abstract: A process for drilling a well into the seafloor at an offshore drilling location, in particular in arctic regions, the process comprising: drilling a top hole part of the well during a winter season where the water at the drilling location is at least partly covered by ice; and initiating drilling a lower part of the well extending into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation during a subsequent off-winter season where the water is less ice infested than during the winter season.

Abstract: An offshore drilling rig includes a drill deck, at least one primary well center and a diverter system arranged below the primary well center, a drilling support structure extending upwardly from the drill deck and above the primary well center and the other work center and a first and a second hoisting system supported by the drilling support structure and being adapted for raising or lowering a first and a second load carrier, respectively, and where the offshore drilling rig includes a positioning system adapted for selectively positioning at least the first load carrier in at least a first or a second horizontal position different from the first horizontal position, where the first load carrier in the first horizontal position is positioned above the primary well center, and in the second horizontal position is positioned above the other work center.

Abstract: An offshore drilling rig comprising a drill deck, at least one primary well center and a diverter system arranged below the primary well center, a drilling support structure extending upwardly from the drill deck and above the primary well center and the other work center and a first and a second hoisting system supported by the drilling support structure and being adapted for raising or lowering a first and a second load carrier, respectively, and where the offshore drilling rig comprises a positioning system adapted for selectively positioning at least the first load carrier in at least a first or a second horizontal position different from the first horizontal position, where the first load carrier in the first horizontal position is positioned above the primary well center, and in the second horizontal position is positioned above the other work center.

Abstract: An offshore well-processing system includes a mobile offshore drilling unit and a remote well-processing device configured to be positioned on an offshore platform different from the mobile offshore drilling unit, the mobile offshore drilling unit defining at least one well centre and comprising at least one primary drill rig including at least one drill floor and at least one hoisting system for raising and lowering tubular equipment through the at least one well centre from/into a well in the seafloor. The mobile offshore drilling unit and the remote well-processing device are configured to be operationally coupled to each other; and the mobile offshore drilling unit is configured to assist in performing concurrent well-processing tasks on respective wells, including the first well processing task performed by the remote well-processing device on a first well and a second well-processing task concurrently performed by the offshore well-processing system on a second well.

Abstract: An offshore floating vessel includes a hoisting system including a drive for moving connecting device and emergency brakes to inhibit motion of the connecting device; wherein the hoisting system is to be operated at least in a hoisting mode and in an active heave compensation mode; wherein hoisting system is to perform an active heave compensation when operated in the active heave compensation mode and to operate without active heave compensation when operated in the hoisting mode; wherein the emergency brakes are operable in a normally-energized mode including a de-energized state where the emergency brakes engage so as to inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel; wherein each emergency brake of the plurality of hydraulic emergency brakes has associated with it a separate accumulator reservoir.

Abstract: An offshore drilling rig configured for lowering and/or raising a string of tubular equipment into a subsea borehole. The drilling rig includes a drill deck; a first hoisting system being adapted for raising or lowering a first load carrier along a vertical first hoisting axis, wherein the first hoisting system is supported by a first support structure extending upwardly relative to the drill deck; a second hoisting system being adapted for raising or lowering a second load carrier along a vertical second hoisting axis located apart from the first hoisting axis, wherein the second hoisting system is supported by a second support structure extending upwardly relative to the drill deck; and a joint operations well center on the drill deck. During joint operations, the first and second hoisting axes are preferably located apart from the joint operations well center.

Abstract: An offshore well-processing system includes a mobile offshore drilling unit and a remote well-processing device configured to be positioned on an offshore platform different from the mobile offshore drilling unit, the mobile offshore drilling unit defining at least one well center and comprising at least one primary drill rig including at least one drill floor and at least one hoisting system for raising and lowering tubular equipment through the at least one well center from/into a well in the seafloor. The mobile offshore drilling unit and the remote well-processing device are configured to be operationally coupled to each other; and the mobile offshore drilling unit is configured to assist in performing concurrent well-processing tasks on respective wells, including the first well processing task performed by the remote well-processing device on a first well and a second well-processing task concurrently performed by the offshore well-processing system on a second well.

Abstract: An offshore drilling rig includes a drill deck, at least one work center arranged in the drill deck; a diverter system operatively connectable at least to a riser extending towards the seafloor; a hoisting system adapted for raising or lowering tubular equipment through the work center; wherein the offshore drilling rig includes a first positioning system configured for positioning at least the work center and/or the diverter system and/or a riser tensioning system selectively at a first horizontal position and a second horizontal position, different from the first horizontal position; and wherein the hoisting system is operable to raise or lower tubular equipment through the work center when said work center is positioned at said first horizontal position.

Abstract: A method for operating a microgrid electric power generation system includes delivering energy to an electric power bus at least partially from one or more kinetic generators electrically coupled to the electric power bus, controlling the one or more kinetic generators in response to a change in a load such that a magnitude of a voltage on the electric power bus remains within a predetermined voltage range, and controlling one or more combustion generators electrically coupled to the electric power bus based at least in part on an operating state of the one or more kinetic generators. The one or more kinetic generators are capable of (a) delivering energy stored therein to the electric power bus, and (b) storing energy in kinetic form.

Abstract: the present invention relates to a blowout preventer system comprising, a lower blowout preventer (BOP) stack comprising a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package (LMRP) comprising a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system, wherein the blowout preventer system further comprises at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system. In this way, an improved blowout preventer system is provided.

Abstract: An offshore drilling rig configured for lowering and/or raising a string of tubular equipment into a subsea borehole. The drilling rig includes a drill deck; a first hoisting system being adapted for raising or lowering a first load carrier along a vertical first hoisting axis, wherein the first hoisting system is supported by a first support structure extending upwardly relative to the drill deck; a second hoisting system being adapted for raising or lowering a second load carrier along a vertical second hoisting axis located apart from the first hoisting axis, wherein the second hoisting system is supported by a second support structure extending upwardly relative to the drill deck; and a joint operations well centre on the drill deck. During joint operations, the first and second hoisting axes are preferably located apart from the joint operations well centre.

Abstract: An offshore drilling rig includes a drill deck, at least one work center arranged in the drill deck; a diverter system operatively connectable at least to a riser extending towards the seafloor; a hoisting system adapted for raising or lowering tubular equipment through the work center; wherein the offshore drilling rig includes a first positioning system configured for positioning at least the work center and/or the diverter system and/or a riser tensioning system selectively at a first horizontal position and a second horizontal position, different from the first horizontal position; and wherein the hoisting system is operable to raise or lower tubular equipment through the work center when said work center is positioned at said first horizontal position.