A Marine Simulator was developed for the Jack-St. Malo field located in approximately 7000 feet of waterin the Gulf of Mexico Walker Ridge block. The simulator presented operational information in a formsimilar to that on the actual facility and provided operational personnel with extensive operationalexperience and training on scenarios as may be faced in the actual facility, prior to and subsequent tofacility start-up.The design of the ballast system for this Semi-Submersible Floating Production Unit (FPU) called fora comprehensive training procedure as an added operational safety measure for the marine operators. TheJack-St. Malo Marine Simulator utilizes process and safety control configurations that are the same as thefacility. It includes a Load Management system and an Environment and Facilities Monitoring System(EFMS) integrated with a high fidelity dynamic model for the hull ballast and bilge systems.The simulator proved to be an effective tool to perform Control System checkout during precommissioning.Lifts for production, generation and compression modules were first tested on the MarineSimulator before actual lifts were conducted in the yard. Naval architects were consulted to verifyanticipated ballasting operations before actual operations. The simulator gave operators a feel of theProcess Dynamics, Process Control, and Safety System and familiarity with the Operator Station graphicswell before start up. The simulator was successfully used as a dummy platform along with the LoadManagement Advisory Program to demonstrate the ballast procedure for the successive installation ofthree heavy modules onboard the actual platform. Scenarios simulated include hurricane shutdown andstart-up, instrument failures, damaged mooring line situations and damaged compartment scenarios due tocollision or inadvertent flooding, among many others.Operator training to operate Jack-St. Malo ballast and bilge systems using facility Operator graphicsand control system was thoroughly carried out using this Simulator and this contributed to the high levelof confidence in hull commissioning operations including lifts and ballasting operations. The simulatorwas a useful tool for validating Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) before actual facility start-up.
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