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Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit
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Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Ocean Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 July 2025 | Viewed by 8347

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Roohollah Babaei Mahani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
Interests: Jack-up drilling rig; marine corrosion; prevention of accidents
Dr. Sirous Yasseri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
Interests: risk & safety; reliability; inspection planning; life extension

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) have been in operation for more than 60 years. They have been designed for a limited nominal life, e.g., 20 years for jack-ups. However, according to DNV GL, 60% of the world's offshore units are kept in operation for well beyond their nominal design life.

MODUs can be categorized into jack-up rigs, drilling barges, semi-submersible rigs, and drill ships.

Several variables govern the design of MODUs, including water depth, drilling operation, environmental conditions, operational safety, and regulatory requirements.

MODUs are transported from one location to another either under their own power, on a barge or by towing. The safety of every stage of operation, transportation, preparation for drilling, and drilling is governed by relevant regulations, thus requiring careful planning.

Many accidents, some with fatalities, have been reported for MODU rigs, including structural failure, human error, poor safety procedures and unforeseen environmental conditions. Blowout, punch-through, system failure, rough weather, collisions, and human errors leading to fire and explosion were among them.

Considering the age of rigs in operation, there is a need to manage material deterioration and come up with new designs for deeper water and safer policies and procedures.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to fill the gap by inviting experts to share their experience with the rest of the industry.  Our policy of rapid turnaround review and publication exists in the hope to disseminate the latest scholarly research for industry experts, researchers, teaching, and reference purposes.

The submission of high-quality original papers directly related to various aspects as listed below is encouraged.  Novel techniques and ideas are also encouraged.

  • Recent designs of MODUs
  • Transport of MODUs
  • Operations of MODUs
  • Laws and Regulations
  • Risk, reliability and safety
  • Past accidents
  • MDUs for harsh environment
  • Corrosion
  • Refreshment for re-classification
  • Material selection, fatigue, and life extension

Dr. Roohollah Babaei Mahani
Dr. Sirous Yasseri
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • jack-up, semi-submersible, drill ship
  • marine corrosion
  • life extension
  • risk, reliability, and safety
  • new designs
  • operation
  • water depth and drilling depth
  • MODU management, laws and regulations
  • transport of MODUs
  • past accidents, lessons learned, and prevention of incidents

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 3797 KiB  
Article
A Case Study on the Corrosion of an Aging Jack-Up Drilling Rig
by Roohollah Babaei-Mahani, Sirous Yasseri, Wayne Lam and Pouyan Talebizadehsardari
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(3), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13030495 - 2 Mar 2025
Viewed by 727
Abstract
Corrosion costs the Oil & Gas Industry billions of pounds annually, primarily due to environmental factors such as high salinity, temperature fluctuations, and humidity in marine environments. Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs), especially jack-up rigs, are particularly susceptible to these dangers. This paper [...] Read more.
Corrosion costs the Oil & Gas Industry billions of pounds annually, primarily due to environmental factors such as high salinity, temperature fluctuations, and humidity in marine environments. Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs), especially jack-up rigs, are particularly susceptible to these dangers. This paper examines the impact of cold stacking on aging jack-up rigs and highlights how the absence of an adequate corrosion control system can accelerate structural deterioration. Our findings show that repair costs following cold stacking can far exceed the costs associated with maintaining rigs in a warm-stacked state. Preload tanks are critical areas prone to degradation due to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) and inadequate preservation practices. Furthermore, although high-strength steels are frequently utilized in the construction of jack-up rigs due to their durability, we illustrate that, in the absence of meticulously devised preventative measures, these steels are susceptible to considerable corrosion, resulting in substantial repair expenses and diminished operational lifespans. This study highlights the significance of proactive corrosion control measures in maintaining the long-term structural integrity and cost-effectiveness of offshore drilling units. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit)
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21 pages, 10630 KiB  
Article
Research on the Risk of Drilling Phases Based on the Development Model of Shallow-Water Subsea Trees
by Zhiming Yin, Meipeng Ren, Yingwen Ma, Xiangqian Yang, Deqiang Tian, Haiwei Wang, Chengcheng Xiao and Jingyu Qu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(11), 1909; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12111909 - 25 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 884
Abstract
China is actively advancing offshore oil and gas exploration and development, focusing on addressing the technical challenges associated with resource extraction in shallow waters. The shallow-water subsea tree development model has gradually been applied in such environments, alleviating some construction difficulties. However, it [...] Read more.
China is actively advancing offshore oil and gas exploration and development, focusing on addressing the technical challenges associated with resource extraction in shallow waters. The shallow-water subsea tree development model has gradually been applied in such environments, alleviating some construction difficulties. However, it still poses well control risks that require systematic analysis and quantitative evaluation. Given that the blowout preventer (BOP) is located on the platform and the shallow-water subsea tree is only used during certain drilling stages, this study divided the drilling process into two phases: the first three sections and the fourth section. Based on the “man–machine–material–environment” analytical framework and an improved system-theoretic process analysis (STPA), a control model for the construction phases was developed. Fault tree analysis (FTA) was then employed to identify comprehensively the potential risks from the platform to the wellbore in both phases. Subsequently, the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method were used to assess quantitatively the well control risks. Using the average weight as the evaluation criterion, high-risk factors exceeding the average weight in each phase were identified. The results indicate that in the shallow-water subsea tree development model, well control risks in the first three drilling sections primarily stem from human errors and equipment failures, while risks in the fourth section are mainly caused by damage to the subsea tree itself. The identified risk factors provide a theoretical basis for enhancing well control safety management in the shallow-water subsea tree development model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit)
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28 pages, 7925 KiB  
Article
Nonlinear Soil–Pile–Structure Interaction Behaviour of Marine Jetty Structures
by Marios Koronides, Constantine Michailides and Toula Onoufriou
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(7), 1153; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12071153 - 9 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1611
Abstract
Nonlinear soil–pile–structure interaction (SPSI) phenomena are known to play a vital role in the response of bottom-fixed marine structures. For such structures, these phenomena are commonly considered by the imposition of p-y, τ-z, and q-z springs, representing the lateral and axial shaft and [...] Read more.
Nonlinear soil–pile–structure interaction (SPSI) phenomena are known to play a vital role in the response of bottom-fixed marine structures. For such structures, these phenomena are commonly considered by the imposition of p-y, τ-z, and q-z springs, representing the lateral and axial shaft and axial base soil resistances, respectively. The importance of each resistance mechanism depends on the type of foundation system, with only very limited studies investigating their roles in the response of piled marine structures, such as jetties. Within this context, this study presents numerical three-dimensional pushover analysis results for two marine jetties, a smaller model with four piles and a larger model supported by twenty-four piles. SPSI effects are considered through p-y, τ-z, and q-z springs, the behaviours of which are determined by following commonly employed procedures. The structures’ responses are investigated under the influence of various assumptions regarding the behaviours of springs, as well as steel plasticity. The current investigation underscores the substantial influence of the axial soil–pile interaction on the response of the jetty, particularly in terms of its failure mode. Moreover, it demonstrates the importance of incorporating p-y springs, even though the choice between their linear or nonlinear constitutive behaviour is found to be less critical. Finally, the study concludes that the behaviours of the springs significantly affect the system’s ductility and the degree of steel yielding in the piles, while also highlighting the unconservative influence of neglecting SPSI phenomena. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit)
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