Design of Fuel Barge and Establishment of Risk Based Inspection Regime

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to take this chance for thanking my research facilitator, friends & family for support they provided & their belief in me as guidance they provided without which I would have never been able to do this research.

DECLARATION

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this thesis/dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this thesis/dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as Vestasll as professional level previously. It is also representing my very own views & not essentially which are associated with university.

Signature:

Date:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT2

DECLARATION3

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION6

Background of the Study6

Aim of the Study7

Significance of the Study7

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW9

Barges9

Risks Assessment10

Performance in the Marine Environment11

Attempts to Make Ships of Barges13

CHAPTER 3: DESIGN AND STRUCTURE16

Heating20

Bunker capacity21

Safety23

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION24

Applicability25

Fuel Tank Safety - Fuel Tank Ignition Sources26

Fuel Tank Safety - Maintenance Practices27

Ignition Sources27

Components in-service experience28

Pumps29

Fuel Pump Connectors30

Fuel Quantity Indication System (FQIS) Wiring30

Fuel Quantity Indication System Probes31

Bonding Straps31

Minimizing electrical hazards within fuel tanks31

Evaluation of Safety Measures33

Evaluation Method33

Viability Index35

Inspection and maintenance planning36

Lifecycle cost assessment and Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM)38

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS40

REFERENCES41

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The first practical application of a floating platform was a pivotal event in the development of human civilisation. It leads to two-thirds of the earth becoming navigable and the resources of the ocean exploitable. Exploration and Harvesting / production have continued through the ages and are presently being pursued in search of hydrocarbons and other mineral resources (Sanders & Grassle, 1980: 265).

The prime potential locations of petroleum reserves will have had a plentiful supply of organically rich sedimentary material, often deposited in confined basins with restricted circulation. However, the phenomena of continental drift, major climatic changes over the millennia and the migration of hydrocarbon fluids lead to the discovery of petroleum deposits under areas that are now very different. Most offshore hydrocarbon deposits are expected to be located under the continental shelf and on the slope from the shelf down to the deep ocean floor.

The bulk of today's offshore hydrocarbon reserves originate from developments on the continental shelf in relatively shallow water. However as the size of discoveries in the mature basins diminishes, there is an increasing shift towards exploration in deeper water (Sanders, 1978: 717). Typically the edge of the continental shelf is at about 200 metres water depth and the slope extends to 2500 -3000 in. Therefore future exploration of the continental margins, down to about 3,000 m may be expected but there will be little justification for prospecting for oil in the deep oceans.

The development of the offshore industry commenced with the use of fixed structures. As development accelerated with the discovery of oil and gas in deeper waters, the use of floating structures became commonplace. Once preliminary geophysical investigations indicate the potential for hydrocarbons related several major activities (Reddy & Eglinton, 2002: 4754). That may overlap, are required to recover these hydrocarbons from below the seabed, namely: exploration drilling, well ...