Our industry takes a while to describe the obvious and apparent. It took us years to finally come up with descriptives like MODU, OSV, MOPU, and so forth. Now, we are faced with another descriptive abbreviation. The liftboat, as we generally call a self-propelled, self-elevating barge, has been around since the 1970s. In the early days, these vessels were referred to as elevating boats. Later in the 1970s, the vessels grew in size and leg length and were being referred to as liftboats. In the 1980s, the offshore oil and gas industry knew what a liftboat was in a word.
In the 1990s, the old, tried and true name of liftboat become less accurate in its description of self-propelled, self-elevating vessels in general. Size has increased along with leg length and other attributes. We are now seeing the abbreviation in some circles of MPSV (multi-purpose service vessel) to mean a self-propelled, self-elevating vessel generally intended to perform a number of services at the well site (wireline, logging, coiled tubing, etc.) and specifically outfitted to carry out well servicing.
Distinguished from its predecessors is the OASES (offshore all-purpose self-elevating service) vessel. The factor which differentiates it from others is its ability to perform many tasks, from well workover and specialized drilling to construction, pipelaying, heavy lifts, and platform removal. OASES vessels can now perform all of these services and more. Previously, liftboats were limited in their capabilities, so they could not physically perform such tasks as coiled tubing drilling.
As technology forged ahead, more development took place on the transportation/delivery side. It appears that in their working water depths, OASES vessels will offer operators worldwide cost effective alternatives and solutions to a number of offshore projects. These vessels, incorporating new, leading-edge technologies, will provide operators lower cost alternatives in a world of increasingly tight profit margins as a result of lower oil prices.
Technology, being driven by industry, has advanced to the stage that many options are available to owners and operators to maximize the ability to design and build the safest and most economical equipment in history. Those who are astute enough to take advantage of the advancements in this technology and apply it to design and operations will be at the cutting edge of the industry.
The decrease in short-term commodity prices should be viewed with the experience that tells us to be reminded of the cyclical nature of the business. Prices have been low before and have always recovered. I do not believe the short-term situation is here to stay, and that it ultimately will not have a long-term effect on the industry.
In planning the future, we also must pay attention to the deepwater activity. The products from this sector of the map are often inaccessible for most participants in the oil and gas industry. However, these products pass through those geographical areas serviceable by shallow water equipment, such as pipelines and compressor stations, on the way to refineries and terminals. The everyday life of the OASES vessels involves installation, maintenance, service, and repair of facilities that routinely handle oil and gas from both shallow and deepwater production facilities.
In addition to the US Gulf of Mexico market, the OASES vessels have come of age in the international marketplace. Around the globe, over the past 20 years, the operators in foreign countries have asked about the capabilities of self propelled, self-elevating vessels. In most cases, they have not been able to secure vessels large enough to be utilized in most of their fields. With the advanced design and larger capacities of these new vessels, users around the world have a vessel that will meet their needs. This, in turn, has expanded the market to the entire globe for the OASES vessels.
Avis Bourg Jr.
Searex Energy Services
Lacombe, Louisiana (US)
Copyright 1999 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
