Alan C McClure Associates (ACMA) performed a seakeeping analysis on a Tandem Catamaran using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The challenge was how to perform a seakeeping analysis in a commercially viable fashion. ACMA utilized an unsteady RANS method to model regular waves of various wave encounter periods interacting with the vessel. ACMA then post processed results to create response amplitude operators (RAO) from the simulations. This paper reviews the strategy for optimization of the mesh refinements within the wave zone, the timestep, and simulation run time. The results of this optimization yielded a careful balance between computational cost and accuracy. The CFD analysis was supported by validation and error analysis, which the paper summarizes. Results also include a computational budget for seakeeping analysis, visualizations of volume fraction dispersion, and plots of response amplitude operators. All results include thorough discussion on successes and challenges with maintaining simulation quality within the project budget. This work revealed the current economic limitations of CFD. At this point, CFD is not yet ready for unrestricted application to seakeeping. Limited scope applications are possible, but generalized seakeeping applications require extensive project budgets.

Vortex-Induced vibrations (VIV) of a circular pipe or a riser are caused by flow separation and vortex shedding from the riser when exposed to ocean currents. This phenomenon is frequently observed in the field for drilling risers as well as production risers. Such phenomenon is not desirable as bending stresses due to the vibrations can cause significant fatigue damage to the system. Riser fairings and/or strakes are generally used in the field to streamline the flow and eliminate VIV. Accurately predicting riser VIV responses with or without VIV suppression devices is one of the key challenges for designers and researchers in the relevant offshore industry. In this study, the VIV benchmark study organized by ITTC Ocean Engineering Committee in 2013 was revisited. A commercial RANS-based CFD code was used to predict drag, lift, and Strouhal number of flow past a fixed long circular cylinder at Reynolds numbers close to the drag crisis. Both 2D and 3D cases were studied. Two turbulence models, namely LES and DES were used. Grid and time-step sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Results were compared with the ITTC benchmark data. This study shows that it is often insufficient to consider VIV of a long symmetrical cylinder as two-dimensional system due to three-dimensional nature of vortex structures. In addition, accurate VIV predictions also require flow in the viscous sub-layer to be fully resolved. These requirements lead to excessive number of cells to carry out CFD simulations. In order to determine effective domain size and practical mesh discretization for VIV simulations, this study included an investigation into the effects of length to diameter ratio of the computational domain. It was found that increasing length to diameter ratio to 2 improved drag and lift predictions significantly and the results agreed well with the benchmark data. Preliminary simulations were also conducted with a circular cylinder fitted with a generic strake to evaluate the VIV characteristics. Results were compared with experimental data where a close match was obtained for both drag and lift. This also revealed the effects of the strake on the VIV of the pipe. For the present cases, major flow features including pressure, velocity, and vorticity fields are also presented. Three-dimensional effects and unsteadiness were well captured in both turbulence models. LES-based turbulence models seem to be the key to better solve and predict the flow problem numerically. However, their considerable computational demand still does not allow applications for engineering design purposes.

Turbulent flows past a cylinder is one of the most intensively investigated problem in fluid mechanics. The staggered shed vortices in the wake region exert oscillatory forces to the cylinder, and consequently excite the so called vortex-induced vibrations (VIV). Prediction and suppression of VIV are of special interest to the offshore industry because the cylinder represents a vast number of structural components in the offshore hydrocarbon exploitation. Our previous work, reported in the 20th Offshore Symposium of Texas SNAME by Wang et al, focused on the study of flow around rigid cylinders in uniform flow, with both Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) experiment and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. PIV measurements of the flow field at the downstream of the cylinder were first presented. The boundary conditions for CFD simulations were measured in the PIV experiment. Then the PIV flow was compared with both RANS (2D) and LES (3D) simulations performed with ANSYS Fluent. The velocity fields from PIV and CFD were compared in the time domain. In this work, the time-averaged velocity profiles and Reynolds stresses are analyzed. It is found that, in general, LES (3D) gives a better prediction of flow characteristics than RANS (2D). Subsequently, RANS simulations are performed in the case of alternating flow around a rigid cylinder and the results, for various combinations of Reynolds and Keulegan-Carpenter numbers, and the predicted drag force, as a function of time, is compared with that based on the classical Morison equation, as well as with experimental values reported in the API Manual.

Detailed inspection of mooring systems in deep water is not easy, to say the least. As a safety critical element of an offshore floating unit, it is critical to understand the performance and degradation, if any, of the system. There is a consensus within the offshore industry that monitoring of the mooring system is important. Monitoring methodologies and devices have been developed and applied to some mooring systems. A certain level of requirements for a monitoring of mooring systems appears in standards and class societies' rules. However, gaps exist between the applications of the monitoring systems. This paper is to provide a review of the state-of-the-art in monitoring of mooring systems with particular focus on the effectiveness of monitoring methods that may depend on the characteristics of a mooring system, objectives, and many other conditions. Specifically, the influential parameters for the performance of mooring systems at a given environmental site and for different types of mooring systems are studied.

The development of renewable energy through wind turbine systems at sea induces new engineering challenges. Mooring systems for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWT) are one of the most critical issues for the design process of such units. Over the past decades, the offshore industry has created and developed innovative and cost-effective solutions for the mooring of Oil and Gas (O&G) units such as FPSOs, semi-submersible platforms or TLPs. However the specificities of FOWT need to be carefully considered when trying to adapt the actual state-of-the-art to these new types of units. This paper aims to highlight some of the main differences between mooring systems of FOWTs and O&G units. Comparison studies have been performed between several standards and rules in order to emphasize key points in the design process. Specific constraints related to FOWT implantation and in-service operations have also been analyzed. Relevant key points, such as redundancy of mooring lines and extreme analysis assumptions, have been selected and specifically studied, in order to give recommendations to the designer. The redundancy of the mooring components is a recognized requirement in the O&G offshore industry. However, for small units, such as FOWT, with a limited number of mooring lines, this requirement may become too restrictive. This paper proposes alternative solutions. Some of the assumptions usually made to perform fatigue and extreme mooring analysis for large unit such as FPSOs may not be valid for smaller units as FOWTs. This paper studies the compliance with different usual assumptions, such as the line dynamic influence. It also proposes an alternative method for extreme tension calculations. The main objective of this paper is to propose guidelines to the industry for the design of mooring systems of FOWTs according to the results of these analyses, through the Bureau Veritas NI572 "Classification and Certification of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines". Even though the knowledge coming from the O&G industry is an important background, this paper tends to show that many points of the design may require specific attention.

The paper presents the design and analysis of a spread mooring system for the Delta House Floating Offshore Installation (FOI), which is a production semi-submersible installed in Mississippi Canyon 254 in the Gulf of Mexico in 1350 m water depth. The unit was designed by Exmar Offshore Company (EOC) and owned and operated by LLOG Exploration LLC. In the design and analysis of the mooring system, one major challenge is modeling polyester rope change-in-length characteristics. Conventional method to envelope maximum vessel offset and maximum line tension using lower and upper bound stiffness is compared to results based on nonlinear change-in-length characteristics from full scale sub-rope tests. Mooring chain fatigue analysis considering vessel Vortex Induced Motion (VIM) and tension Root Mean Square (RMS) amplification due to Out-of-Plane bending (OPB) are performed. Significant effects of VIM and OPB on chain fatigue are found.

The Arctic region contains one of the largest oil and gas reserves in the world. However, the harsh and unpredictable environment poses extreme challenges to drilling and exploration operations in the region. Cold temperatures coupled with sea icing result in limited uptime for various offshore activities. In addition, constant threat from icebergs may require moored mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) to be equipped with quick-release mooring systems in order to disconnect and move out of harm's way (Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-104).While a lot of attention has focused on MODU mooring design criteria in the Gulf of Mexico in light of recent hurricanes (Petruska et al. 2007), such criteria are not properly defined for Arctic regions. This paper addresses critical aspects for mooring design in the Arctic, particularly extreme temperatures (typically below 0°C) and icing that are not emphasized in current mooring design codes (API-RP-2SK, DNVGL-OS-E301). Typically, mooring designers assume air density of 1.225kg/m3 for computing wind loads, which corresponds to 15°C air temperature. The Arctic environment, on the other hand, characteristically has cold, relatively dry air coupled with strong winds. In such conditions, air density is much higher, thereby increasing the wind load on the MODU. Icing on the superstructure may further increase the wind load due to increase in projected wind area. These two effects (air density and icing) may increase the net wind load on the MODU by around 10–15% depending upon the ambient conditions. It is therefore important to apply correct physics for MODU mooring design in the Arctic. The paper also provides commentary on reasonable ways to combine the design storm condition (typically 100-year) with extreme temperatures in order to reduce conservatism in design, while allowing safe and robust operation.

For the past decade, offshore oil and gas observed more challenging realms of the industry which include ultra-deep waters, harsher environments, and higher pressures and temperatures. The most notable of such is the challenges of high pressure high temperature (HPHT) conditions which are still regarded as uncharted territories and have prompted the industry to deliver safe and reliable solutions. Subsea design for HPHT conditions presents numerous engineering challenges which can limit conventional technology designs. For riser systems, HPHT conditions can require higher than usual pipe wall thickness, which can lead to pipe manufacturing and fabrication issues as well as riser payload and hang-off system challenges to the floating facility. Conventional design codes will be reviewed for riser sizing, hence suitable assumptions will be derived for riser sizing methodologies in HPHT applications. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the conventional thin-wall and thick-wall riser wall sizing designs and provide recommendations the appropriate sizing of the riser in HPHT applications.

Multiphase flow-induced dynamic loads in rigid tie-in spool are mainly generated by fluid density variation, slugging, and direction change at bends. When the frequencies of the induced dynamic loads are close to the natural frequencies of the rigid tie-in spool, resonance will occur. This may cause significant strength and fatigue issues, and should therefore be included in the rigid tie-in spool system design. In this paper, a procedure for assessing structural response of a tie-in spool using fluid-structure interaction (FSI) method is introduced to investigate the internal multiphase flow-induced vibration and fatigue damage due to fluid density change, slugging, and direction change at bends. A numerical example to demonstrate the procedure are also included. In the procedure, the rigid tie-in spool structural mode shapes and natural frequencies are first determined by FEA. Then, the inlet slug frequencies are selected based on the natural frequencies of the tie-in spool. Finally, coupled CFD and structure analysis are carried out to calculate the stress and stress range at the critical locations of the rigid tie-in spool for strength and fatigue evaluation. In the coupled CFD and structure analysis, fluid-induced loads due to fluid density variation, slugging, and flow direction change at bends are all included. For the numerical example, a typical tie-in spool is selected. Star CCM is used as CFD software for multiphase flow-induced load analysis. ABAQUS is used as structure software for mode shape and FSI analysis for strength and fatigue evaluation. The proposed procedure together with the numerical example provides an in-depth understanding of the resonance effect on strength and fatigue for a typical rigid tie-in spool. It also demonstrates the importance of applying the FSI method to the rigid tie-in spool system design when slugging and resonance are expected.

One of the key design parameters of Flexible Joint as the Top Termination Unit (TTU) of Steel Catenary Riser (SCR) or Steel Lazy Wave Riser (SLWR) is the maximum predicted dynamic angular motion of the flexible joint. It is important for the Flexible Joint rotation angle not to exceed the current qualification limits to reduce project risks and avoid additional cost and potentially schedule impact. In this paper, the design rotational angle requirements for a Flexible Joint TTU of a steel lazy wave riser hosted on a Semisubmersible Floating Production Unit (FPU) in Western Australia harsh environment is investigated. Fully coupled time domain analysis is used to develop the motion time history of the FPU that is used in detailed Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the riser to predict the riser performance and the Flexible Joint rotational angle. 10,000 year survival condition is investigated. Far, Near and Cross conditions of the riser are analyzed. Contributions of the motion components (participation factors) to the Flexible Joint rotational angle are estimated. Offset, heave and roll/pitch modes of vessel motions are considered. Percentage contributions to the Flexible Joint rotation angle from mean, low frequency and wave frequency for each component are extracted. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the significance of each of the motion components to the Flexible Joint rotation angle. The paper concludes with recommendations on the key design considerations and optimizations of the semisubmersible hull design that should be implemented to reduce the flexible joint angle so that it remains within the qualified limits.

Dynamically positioned offshore drill-ships and semisubmersibles are commonly used for drilling operations in deep water (more than 3000ft water depth). For shallow water depth (500ft (152.4m) to 2000ft (609.6m)), moored semisubmersibles were often used to perform the drilling operations. Because of the shallow water depth, in case of an emergency, dynamically positioned drill-ships and semisubmersibles may have limited watch circles to enable safe disconnection of the riser system from the wellhead. With superior mobility and loading capacity, dynamically positioned drilling vessels are used more frequently for offshore drilling. In recent years, there are growing interests in using them for shallow water drilling. In this paper, the feasibility and limitation of using dynamically positioned drilling vessels for shallow water operation are studied. A drill ship was selected to perform the riser and drift off analysis. The water depth was varied from 500ft to 2000ft, with mud weight at 8.56ppg and 16ppg, respectively. Typical Gulf of Mexico met ocean conditions were applied to a global riser model using DeepRiser Software. Based on the results of the study, a minimum water depth was found with sufficient watch circles for drilling operation. Below the minimum water depth, the watch circle may be insufficient, or not available.

Green Water and Wave impacts are amongst the most severe and dangerous loads that effect offshore structures. Even if many design procedures are well established, they can over or underestimate the structural loading in complex conditions as they are outside of their application scope. This therefore leads to over designed and expensive structures, or to under designed structures leading to dangerous situations. The calculation of complex structure loadings is therefore a key issue for engineering companies. HydrOcean, in cooperation with Ecole Centrale de Nantes and Next Flow, has developed the SPH-flow software, based on the SPH method. This paper details the development and validation of a methodology dedicated to the evaluation of green water loads on offshore structures. This methodology was developed in cooperation with Total and Technip. Comparisons with experimental results are provided. The following aspects will be addressed in this article: Validation of wave propagation by the SPH method and development of a forcing with a Higher-Order Spectral method to simulate open sea. Validation on slamming and green water cases. The experiments were performed in the wave tank of the Ecole Centrale de Nantes. SPH calculations are performed under similar conditions, to compare the results obtained with the experiments. Application of the developed and validated methodology for the assessment of green-water event on offshore structures.

Maintaining sufficient airgap between the wave crest and the bottom of deck steel in the wellbay area of column stabilized floating production units is one of the key design challenges for such structures and especially so in the harsh environments survival conditions. In this paper, the effect of column configuration on the wave enhancement has been investigated. A detailed parametric study is performed to examine the influence of the column cross-sectional shape, column spacing relative to wavelength and column orientation relative to wave propagation direction on the wave enhancement. A four-column structure is considered in this parametric study. Platforms with circular and rectangular columns are investigated and compared. The results are calibrated with available model test results. For the selected configuration, time domain coupled analysis including first and second order wave elevation transfer functions are used. A new column design with hybrid cross-sectional configuration is developed which significantly reduces the wave enhancement in the wellbay area. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the benefit from this new design. The paper concludes with discussion on the constructability of the new configuration compared to the conventional design.

A truss Spar with direct vertical access merit has been designed and installed in ultra-deep water of Gulf of Mexico for a few years. This paper intends to carry out a comparative study of a Paired-Column Semi-submersible (PC-Semi) platform with the same topsides payloads, TTRs tensions, Ram-style tensioners with 28-ft stroke range and same SCRs tensions in the same metocean criteria with same global performance and mooring design criteria. PC-Semi hull form development and evolution for ultra-deep water dry tree applications in central Gulf of Mexico have been undertaken for a few years through RPSEA ultra-deep water program. Extensive and comprehensive model testing including wind tunnel tests, wave basin tests and VIM tests has been completed successfully. Feasibility and advantages of PC-Semi for dry tree application with large topsides payloads in central GoM have been published and established for years. PC-Semi platform Approval in Principal has been awarded by DNV. Application of PC-Semi concept as an alternative to Spar for West GoM with fewer top tension riser counts and less topsides payloads than those in central GoM was carried out in this study to identify advantages of hull form and scalability of PC-Semi concept. PC-Semi hull and mooring configurations are sized and validated through comprehensive global performance analysis consisting of offsets, rotations, vertical motions, minimum airgaps, maximum accelerations and TTR strokes and mooring analysis. After validation analysis, key figures of hull and mooring configurations along with the detailed global performance results of PC-Semi are summarized and discussed. Features of pre-service conditions, such as feasibility of vertical wet tow and quayside integration, of both hull forms are also addressed and highlighted.

Extreme wave events are generally taken into account in the design of offshore structures, to assure integrity and safety of the structure. To accurately predict extreme wave impact loading, a realistic modeling of all aspects involved is required. CFD simulations have recently shown more and more promising results in this field, however at present most of the industry still relies on detailed model testing for wave impact predictions. Especially when impacts due to steep (nearly) breaking waves are considered, accurate numerical modeling is challenging. The difficulty starts with a realistic numerical representation of the incoming breaking wave, which is essential for a realistic simulation but by no means easy to obtain. This paper presents an approach towards obtaining deterministic breaking waves numerically, and applying these in offshore applications. The presented method allows to numerically replicate a critical extreme wave (impact) event, and therewith opens doors for CFD to a whole new field of applications. An extreme event that was measured during a wave basin test can be replicated numerically to run design variations, or a design wave defined from Met Ocean data can be reproduced to simulate its impact on a structure. The possibilities of the new approach can be optimized by implementing it in a CFD simulation tool that allows for dynamic mooring line simulation, such that mooring failures under the impact of an extreme wave event can be studied numerically. Examples of how the proposed method can assist the industry in future extreme environment modeling are presented, and results are compared to model basin results for the impact of a (numerically replicated) extreme breaking wave on a flexible mono pile structure.

Internal turret system is one of the most popular single point mooring systems that is uniquely integrated with the FPSO hull and connects with both mooring lines and risers/umbilicals. Hydrodynamic aspects of various single point mooring systems have been intensively researched and studied. However, industry standards of deriving the various load components and their correct combination for the purpose of turret structure design are not well documented. This paper presents the procedures of deriving the turret design loads for the structure design of an internal turret using a roller upper bearing system. Based on a sample case of a deepwater FPSO operating in a harsh environment, detailed descriptions of the various load components and their impacts on structural design and mechanical system selection are examined. A summary of the design cases and loads combinations are presented. In addition, various design parameters and their criticalities are studied. The paper concludes that the correct prediction of turret design loads is an important step towards the safe design of Deepwater FPSOs.

In recent years, a number of tankers have run into FPSOs' during offloading cycle due to human error even with utilization of other positioning systems that are currently available. Collision with an FPSO during this cycle is very costly and can put the FPSO out of operation for several months. For instance, a collision in the North Sea on October 8th 2009 caused the FPSO to be out of production at the end of Jan 2010. In order to avoid berthing accidents, we propose a warning system that is separately deployed to provide early collision warning. The system detailed in this paper, assists the berthing process whether human watch person is present or not and is independent of any other system deployed.

The discoveries made in the pre-salt basin offshore Brazil are among the world's most important in the past decade. The pre-salt province comprises large accumulations of excellent quality, high commercial value light oil, however, the new discoveries are located in ultra-deepwater in areas lacking infra-structure, which makes the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel the preferred solution. Steel Catenary Risers (SCRs) are the preferred solution in wet-tree applications due to their simplicity, robustness and low CAPEX and OPEX compared to other riser options. However, due to its relatively high dynamic motions, FPSO is not a feasible host for SCRs in most environments. Also, for efficient production from such rich reservoirs, facilities supporting high production rate and large diameter risers are necessary. This makes it more challenging to find a robust and commercially attractive riser solution. In this paper a novel design for an FPSO with the ability to host large diameter SCRs is presented and evaluated for applications in deepwater field developments. The new design, namely, Low Motion FPSO (LM-FPSO), has a hull form with a generally rectangular cross-section. The platform is moored in-place using a conventional mooring system. The LM-FPSO performance is enhanced with the robust low-tech feature, namely, free-hanging Solid Ballast Tank (SBT). The SBT is located at a certain distance below hull keel and connected to the hull through four groups of short tendons. All tendon components are the same as those used in conventional TLPs. Through the mass and added mass of the SBT, the LM-FPSO provides heave, roll and pitch responses better than or comparable to any floating production structure in use today. The paper presents detailed description of this novel design and its in-service performance. A case study is presented where the LM-FPSO is used in persistent swell in ultra deepwater offshore Brazil to support large diameter SCRs. The SCR's feasibility is demonstrated and reported. The identified risks and associated mitigations for the new design compared to the conventional FPSO are investigated and reported. The paper concludes with discussions on the project execution plan, cost and schedule benefits when developing fields using this novel design.

Wind loads on floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) consist of steady and dynamic components and turbulence is the primary characteristic that differentiates their effects. Industry practice has largely focused on steady winds in the design of floating wind turbines, and emphasis on the effects of turbulence has been inadequate. The extent to which turbulence can affect global responses of FOWTs is not sufficiently understood, and is necessary for the design of safe and robust systems. It is known that turbulence can significantly affect the potential for wind turbines to harness required energy from wind fields. For FOWTs, there is valid concern about the extent to which the functionality and safety of the wind turbine system may be hampered, through interactions between the hydrodynamics-induced platform motions, and turbulence-induced motions of the rotor and tower. Sequel to a prior study addressing the steady-wind aerodynamic effects on the global responses of a 5MW wind turbine three-column TLP, this study investigates the impact of wind turbulence on the global motions, tendon tensions, nacelle accelerations, generated power and tower base responses for the same floating system. The Kaimal and Von Karman wind spectra models (which are some of the most widely used models in offshore wind analysis) are implemented in this study. Results from the steady-wind and turbulent-wind studies are compared and discussed to delineate the effects of wind turbulence. Lessons learned from this study are applicable to any type of FOWT platform and can be effectively incorporated in design with the advantage of achieving safer, robust and optimal FOWT systems.

The Capricorn Maritime Limited group plans to build an extensive shipbuilding and repair center which will serve the region of West Africa. The Capricorn group has chosen to locate the shipbuilding and repair center at Ibaka, Mbo Lga., Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria near the city of James Town, Nigeria. Herman J. Schellstede & Associates, Inc. of New Iberia, Louisiana, U.S.A. has been awarded the technical contract to construct the shipbuilding and repair facility. The west coast of Africa has proven oil reserves from Senegal in the north to Cameroon in the south. The reserves are located both onshore and offshore with a high degree of reserves lying near and in the Delta areas. Nigeria has long established their position as a leader in the oil and gas industry. Nigeria contributes 2.37 million barrels of oil per day to the marketplace. A large portion of Nigerian oil is expedited by marine vessels to various sales points throughout the world. In recent years, deep water leases have been awarded in Nigeria. Many of the leases have been drilled and reserve reports have been produced. The three major markets which are offshore, near shore and onshore, require different drilling and completion equipment. Drill ships, jack-up rigs, semi-submersibles provide drilling in offshore waters. Drilling barges, both swamp and posted, are employed in near shore applications and land-based drilling rigs are employed onshore. The requirements to maintain and repair the drilling fleet are of great importance. In order to support the offshore and near shore operations, various manner of crafts are required such as dredges, workboats, crew boats, tug boats and supply barges. These marine vessels are also joined by coastal and open sea cargo ships which transport the crude oil to the marketplace. The government of Nigeria has changed and a new approach to the energy market is evident. The new government pledges that the "Nigerian content" laws will be upheld. (Nigerian oil and gas industry content development act NOGICD.) A detailed explanation of the development act is being enforced and being accepted throughout the country of Nigeria. The Capricorn facility considers the Nigerian development act and has directed their planning to accommodate the spirit of the laws. The Capricorn facility, integrating proven management methods of the oil and gas industry, is designed to offer shipbuilding, repair and maintenance services for the shipping and oil and gas industries of the coastal region of West Africa and to also accommodate governmental contracts for the servicing of naval as well as commercial fleets. An initial market survey and a production document for the shipyard facility review are also discussed herein in a preliminary manner. The facility, management and financial support are considered world-class and will result in a very profitable and acceptable return on investment. The nine major shipyards, which have been studied, illustrate various building and expansion programs which were implemented to accommodate future contracts. Only a few shipyards reviewed exhibited controlled expansion events. The Capricorn project will provide preplanned expansion methods to control the required growth. The final design will also integrate the most advanced materials handling equipment and construction methods available today. During the last 100 years, the United States has constructed major shipyards which were fundamental in the advancement of the United States as a prominent world leader. At the time of war, highly efficient shipyards were necessary and in great demand to provide vital servicing of vessels and equipment. The review of the U.S. shipyards will provide assistance in outfitting the Nigerian facility with the most up-to-date and efficient components including the expertly designed platforms equipped with modern advancements. As a result, the Capricorn facility will be one of the most innovative and efficient facilities built in the world today. The country of Nigeria will be the location of the first major shipbuilding and repair center constructed in recent times due to the urgent need for a comprehensive facility in this region. In the near future, the region of West Africa will be very active in the transportation of crude oil and the drilling and production from offshore leases. The specialized marine vessels required for transportation of crude oil and drilling/production are well identified. The Capricorn shipyard will benefit greatly from the advancements of over 100 years of shipbuilding developments and innovations. A complete transformation of certain areas in the undeveloped properties and waterways of Ibaka, Mbo Lga., Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria is being undertaken to produce a world-class shipyard and repair facility which will provide support to the oil and gas industry of this region.