B6350 - OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF OFFSHORE ASSETS

Learning outcomes

In the course, the main aspects of the management of offshore assets are discussed. The students will be introduced to the typical operations of the offshore industry including transportation, installation, maintenance, revamping and decommissioning strategies and relevant optimisations. Offshore assets operations include, but are not limited to, design and sizing of offshore equipment, cable/pipeline laying, burial/de-burial and repair methods, asset data management and visualisation solutions.

Course contents

Requirements/Prior knowledge

Prior knowledge and understanding of basics mathematical analysis and linear algebra are required to attend with profit this course.

Fluent spoken English is a necessary pre-requisite: all lectures and tutorials, and all study material will be in English.

Course Contents

PART 1 – Fundamentals of Statics and Structural Mechanics

• Introduction and generalities.
• Equilibrium and Reactions.
• Truss Structures.
• Statics of Beams and Frames.
• Material properties and behaviors.
• Geometrical properties of mass distribution.
• Pulleys and lifting operations and buoyancy.

PART 2 - Offshore operations

• Yard Engineering: Erection Sequence, Yard Layout, Yard Supports, Heavy Lifting & Roll-Up, Movement, Weighing Procedure, Load-Out).
• Constructability: Fabrication, Welding Activity for Structures, Piping Activity, E/I Activity, Lifting Activity And Assembly Of Equipments and Skids, Hvac, Architectural Activity.
• Off-shore Transportation & Installation Engineering: Examples of offshore platform components prefabricated on land and transported to the installation site; Typical naval means utilized for sea transportation; Process to identify the most appropriate naval mean and suitability assessment; Codes and International Standards applicable to sea transportation engineering. Marine Warranty Surveyor. Barge stability criteria. Introduction to the offshore operations required for installing typical platform components.
• Off-Shore Construction, Transportation, Installation and Maintenance Vessels.
• Off-Shore Logistics.
• Maintenance operations.
• Inspections and tests during installation.
• Maritime transportation of hazardous goods: regulations and technical standards.

Readings/Bibliography

• Lectures notes and slides.
• R.C. Hibbeler, Engineering Mechanics: Statics, Global Edition, 14th Ed. Pearson, 2016.
• S. Krenk and J. Høgsberg, Statics and Mechanics of Structures, Springer Netherlands, 2013.
• Baker R., A Primer of Offshore Operations. Third Edition, Petroleum Extension Service, 1998.
• Wilson J.F., Dynamics of Offshore Structures, Wiley, 2003.

Teaching methods

Lectures with the support of the whiteboard, presentations, laptop and tablet. Seminars with experts and professionals.

Assessment methods

A final written examination with questions and/or exercises to assess the knowledge and understanding of the topics covered by the course.

In addition a presentation of a project results must be discussed.

Teaching tools

The teaching tools are projector with PC and whiteboard.

Office hours

See the website of Nicholas Fantuzzi

See the website of Renata Archetti

See the website of