Offshore Helideck Design Guidelines - crs.kz

1 Offshore Helideck Design Guidelines Prepared by John Burt Associates Limited / BOMEL Limited for the Health and Safety Executive ii INTENTIONALLY BLANK iii PREFACE These Offshore Helideck Design Guidelines have been developed in response to an increasing awareness within the industry that Offshore Helideck operations can encounter problems that potentially affect flight safety. These problems may be caused by Helideck layout and equipment deficiencies, structure-induced turbulence, hot gas plumes generated by turbines and flares or the effects of wind/wave-induced motions on helidecks on floating structures and vessels. Often the problems result in operating limits being imposed by the helicopter operators. Recommendation (i) in CAA Paper 99004, a joint HSE / CAA sponsored report into Offshore Helideck environmental issues, was the main starting point for these Guidelines along with an increasing number of non-conformities found during Helideck inspections.

2 HSE, with the support of the CAA and endorsement by the Offshore Industry Advisory Committee s Helicopter Liaison Group (representing industry associations, trades unions and regulators), have commissioned the development of these Guidelines . The objective is to provide designers and helicopter operators with the means to identify and understand the key issues that need to be addressed during Design , fabrication and commissioning of helidecks . Good Helideck Design and operability also requires the designer and helicopter operator to have a clear understanding of regulatory requirements and the management and operational aspects of Offshore helicopter logistics. These Guidelines should therefore be read in conjunction with the latest editions of CAP 437 - Offshore Helicopter landing Areas - Guidance on Standards [Ref: 40] and the UK Offshore Operators Association Guidelines for the Management of Offshore Helideck Operations [Ref: 49].

3 They should be regarded as companion documents. The environmental research work, which is the foundation for Section 10 of these Guidelines , was performed by BMT Fluid Mechanics Limited in conjunction with other specialists ( DERA and JBAL). In addition, technical contributions from several experienced industry professionals and the findings from several other research projects form the substance of these Guidelines . It is HSE's intention that these Guidelines be periodically updated to reflect the outcome of ongoing industry research and advances in Design and operating knowledge. Readers are therefore requested to send in their suggestions and comments for consideration to the HSE Hazardous Installation Directorate Offshore Division (Marine & Aviation Operations) at Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London, SE1 9HS and / or BOMEL Limited at Ledger House, Forest green Road, Fifield, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 2NR.

4 Iv DISCLAIMER Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the data given in this document are both correct and up to date at the time of publication, the Health and Safety Executive and authors will not accept any liability for any erroneous, incorrect or incomplete information published in this document. v ORGANISATIONS CONSULTED Association of British Certification Bodies (ABCB) British Helicopter Advisory Board (BHAB) British Rig Owners Association (BROA) Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Cogent / Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation (OPITO) International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC) International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Inter Union Offshore Operations Committee (IUOOC) Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) Offshore Contractors Association (OCA) United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA)

5 PROJECT MANAGEMENT BOMEL Limited TECHNICAL SPECIALIST & EDITOR John Burt Associates Limited vi INTENTIONALLY BLANK vii CONTENTS PREFACE III DISCLAIMER IV CONTENTS VII INTRODUCTION 1 Purpose 2 Scope 2 THE Offshore HELICOPTER OPERATING ENVIRONMENT 5 Introduction 5 The Offshore Platform Operator / Vessel Owners Perspective 5 The Offshore Helicopter Pilot s Operating Environment 6 Helideck Problems Encountered on the UKCS 7 THE Offshore Helideck Design PROCESS 11 Introduction 11 Design 11 REGULATIONS.

6 Design CODES & VERIFICATION 17 Introduction 17 Regulations 18 Aeronautical Legislation and Enforcement 18 Offshore helidecks Legislation & Enforcement 19 Selecting Appropriate Design Codes 21 Fixed Installations 21 Mobile Installations and Vessels 21 Verification 22 Introduction 22 Safety-Critical Elements 22 Performance Standards 23 The Process 23 Helideck Design Appraisal 24 Providing Information for Operating and Flight Crew Operations Manuals 25 Limited Helideck Operations 26 Design SAFETY CASES 27 Introduction 27 Risk and Operability Assessments 28 Helideck Assessment Strategy 29 viii Performance Assessment And Review 30 Template for a Design and Operability Report 30 Helideck AND FACILITIES LAYOUT 37 Introduction 37 Developing a Helideck Design Specification 37 General 37 Reference Publications and Guidance 37 Installation / Vessel Layout Considerations 38

7 Main References 38 General 38 Helideck Physical Characteristics 40 Helideck Orientation 41 Assessing Suitability of the Proposed Helideck Arrangement 42 The Safe Landing Area 48 Main References 48 General 48 Helicopter Parking Facilities 50 Introduction 50 Main References 51 Design Considerations 51 Hangars 53 Obstacle Free Environment 54 Main References 54 Obstruction Clearances 54 Limited Obstacle Sector 54 Falling Gradient 55 Control.

8 Access And Escape 55 Main References 55 Helideck Control Room 55 Access and Escape Routes 56 FLOATING STRUCTURES AND VESSELS 57 Introduction 57 Mobile Drilling Rigs 58 Introduction 58 Main References 58 Specific Features to Consider in MODU Helideck Design 58 Floating Production Systems 67 Introduction 67 Main References 67 Specific Features to Consider in FPSO Helideck Design 68 Marine Operating Environment 69 ix Vessel / Helideck Classification / Verification Process 70 Optimising Helideck Location and Layout 71 Shuttle Tanker Operations 71 Specialist Vessels 72 Introduction 72 Main References 73 Specific Features to Consider in Vessel Helideck Design 73 Motion Considerations And Operating Limits 76 OTHER INSTALLATION ARRANGEMENTS 77 Combined Operations 77 Introduction 77 Main References 79 Design Considerations 79 Safety Cases 81 Management of Combined Operations helidecks 82 Normally Unattended Installations 83 Introduction 83 Main References 84

9 Definitions 84 Seeking the Safest and Most Efficient Helideck Design Options for Operations to NUIs 85 Equipment Design Considerations 85 Helideck STRUCTURES 91 Introduction 91 Main References 92 Landing Surface 93 Wood 93 Steel 93 Aluminium 93 Support Structure 95 Introduction 95 Materials 95 Design 96 Interconnected Modules 96 Maintenance 97 Appurtenances 97 Load Combinations and Load Factors 97 Introduction 97 Emergency landing 98 Normal Operations and Helicopters at Rest 99

10 Design Loadings 99 x Helideck Friction Surface and Landing Nets 101 Friction Surface 101 Main References 101 Design Considerations 101 Helideck Landing Nets 102 Helideck Net Fixings 103 Helideck Landing Net Removal 106 Access and Escape 107 Introduction 107 Main References 107 Access General Considerations 108 Escape - General Considerations 109 Platforms 109 Walkways 111 Stairways and Ladders 111 Control of Personnel Access to Helideck 112 Drainage 112 Introduction 112 Main References 112 Environmental Considerations 113 Operational Considerations 113 Design Considerations 113