Nowadays, the development of Arctic oil/gas fields is still more challenging. Designing of various-type drilling unit solutions operable in rigorous ice conditions is underway to meet that challenge.
The present report includes results of the development of a promising design of an ice-resistant turret-based floating drilling unit with the hull of wedge shape similar to ice-going ship’s fore in terms of angle of bow rake, entrance angle of water line, flare of frames. This architectonic type was selected based on the survey of world experience and comparison with similar Arctic solutions.
Testing in the seaworthiness basin and ice test basin proved high seaworthiness performances of this ship. Particularly demonstrative are good controllability in ice conditions achieved by the specific hull shape and use of turret arrangement, as well as relatively lower ice loads compared with other solutions.
