Dynamic Rig Positioning

Dynamic Positioning (DP) Rig Positioning is offered to drillships and semi-submersible drilling rigs.

DP is the method whereby a vessel or rig is kept on station by computer-controlled thruster propellers rather than by anchors.

A drillship is a maritime vessel that has been fitted with drilling apparatus. It is most often used for exploratory drilling of new oil or gas wells in deep water but can also be used for scientific drilling. Most drillships are outfitted with a dynamic positioning system to maintain position over the well.

Semi-submersible drilling rig is a floating, offshore drilling structure that has hulls submerged in the water but not resting on the sea floor. Living quarters, storage space, and so forth are assembled on the deck. Semi-submersible rigs are either self- propelled or towed to a drilling site and either anchored or dynamically positioned over the site, or both. Semi-submersibles are more stable than drillships and are used extensively to drill wildcat wells in rough waters such as the North Sea.

Contact our Marine Construction Division managers.

V. P. of Marine and Construction Surveys - Ralph Coleman
Marine Operations Manager - Eric Granger
Survey Advisor - George Buhler
Sales & Marketing Manager, Marine Construction Surveys - Tim Boyer