Shorebase and Marine

Transportation Manager

Gulf of Mexico SBU

Chevron North America
Exploration and Production

30 September 2011
Ref:

Marine Safety, Reliability and Efficiency Process:

Global Upstream Anchoring Procedure

The Marine Safety, Reliability and Efficiency Process, identifies the requirements and activities necessary to
deliver world class marine services in Chevrons Global Upstream operations throughout the world.
This procedure applies to all anchoring operations being carried out, or planned to be performed within an
area within Chevrons Gulf of Mexico operations. The purpose is to standardize such operations and ensure
that they are carried out in the safest and most practical manner. This will apply to all operations involving
anchoring and the deployment of moorings.

Emergency Anchoring
If a vessel has to anchor in an emergency, the Master must contact Marine Control1 or the installation
OIM prior to anchoring. If this is not possible, the greatest of diligence shall be exercised to ensure that
the integrity of underwater installations or pipelines is not compromised in any manner. Upon such
anchoring a report shall be made to the OIM or authorized person who will assess the situation and
issue instructions for any further course of action.
1If a vessel has to anchor in an emergency, notification is to be made to the Offshore Logistics Decision Support Center and

Shore Base. If there is an emergency anchoring situation involving the use of dive support vessels, lay barges and derrick barges
the Chevron Project Manager for the project should be notified. All anchoring incidents are to be entered into IMS. For those
anchoring incidents involving dive support vessels, lay barges and derrick barges, the Marine Transportation Group should be
copied on the SiteSafe report.
Vessels and vessel owners are to comply with 46 CFR 04.05 (Notice of Marine Casualty) as applicable.

Anchoring of Mobile Offshore Units

Mobile Offshore Units apply to all types of offshore drilling and construction units including but not
limited to the following:

Semi-submersible drilling rigs

Jack-up drilling rigs
Accommodation units
Heavy lift crane vessels
Pipe laying vessels
Pipe trenching units
Drilling tenders
Project Vessels
Drill ships

In the Greater Gulf of Mexico (GGoM), Liftboats and Spud Barges will comply with the Greater Gulf of
Mexico (GGoM) Liftboat Guidelines and Procedures.
Compliance with the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
(BSEE)/Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Notice to Lessees (NTL) 2008-G05 is required.
For pipe lay barges, derrick barges and dive support vessels in the GGoM, the contractors anchor

Shorebase and Marine

Transportation Manager

Gulf of Mexico SBU

Chevron North America
Exploration and Production

handling procedures will be submitted to the Chevron Project Manager for the project for review and
concurrence.

Written Mooring Operation Procedure

Detailed written procedures shall be produced in sufficient time prior to mobilization to allow all parties
(owner/operator of the unit, vessel operators, and Chevron authorized person) to review and approve. This
mooring operation procedure shall include, at a minimum, the following:

Anchor patterns and drawings

Anchor positions
The sequence of setting anchors should be included as part of the written procedures.
Anchor line lengths showing touchdown points and tensions
In the GGoM, the 500 / 1,000 foot rule1 addresses anchor placement and tensions.
Minimum tensions to maintain the specified minimum vertical separation where a line cross
any subsea pipeline, cable or structure
As part of the 500/1,000 foot rule, the anchor line over an identified obstruction should be
avoided. If this cannot be accomplished, then the use of a mid-line buoy to maintain the
vertical separation should be considered as part of the risk assessment.
Positions of all surface installations, structures and all subsea features to include wrecks, pot
marks, wellheads, pipelines, cables, all subsea obstructions and bathymetry
In the GGoM, unless required by BSEE/BOEM, consideration shall be given to recent site
survey data, hazard surveys identifying avoidance areas, DGPS on board with remote
positioning on tugs and stationary scanning sonar as part of the risk assessment.
Charts accompanied by catenary curves for the wires or chains of the unit/vessel at working
depth computed for all working tensions
The 500 / 1,000 foot rule will apply.
1

500/1,000 Foot Rule Definition: Anchors are not dropped closer than 500 feet from a
pipeline. If crossing a pipeline, the anchor should not be dropped closer than 1,000 feet of
the pipeline in the direction of the anchor pull.

Note: Whenever the GGoM BU requires anchors to be placed closer to the pipelines than
the recommended 500 / 1,000 foot rule, then discussions with the vessel operator and the
reasons for a variation from the 500 / 1,000 foot rule are required. The surveyor will
request an all stop until all parties agree to the process for setting anchors. The proposed
change in anchor layout shall be submitted to the Chevron Project Manager.

Operational weather parameters

Crew change requirements
Site survey
In the GGoM, site surveys are provided through a third party surveyor and should be consulted for
the particular survey of the area of operation. If there is a question regarding the data contained in
the site survey, consider performing another site survey for anchor positions and to identify
obstructions.
Mooring analysis that has been reviewed by a third party
In the GGoM, anchoring vessels shall have a third party survey to position anchors.
A complete list of the installations mooring equipment and any additional equipment required,
including the type, weight, number and spares required; all mooring equipment shall have valid

Shorebase and Marine

Transportation Manager

Gulf of Mexico SBU

Chevron North America
Exploration and Production

certification
Vessel specifications required to perform the operation
Risk assessment
Review anchor procedures, mooring operation plan, weather parameters, crew change
requirements, site survey, contingency plans, SIMOPS, and any other factors relating to the project
by the Chevron Project Manager/Team.
On-site JSA shall be conducted prior to deployment.
Contingency plans

Note: The blue language, in general for these Procedures, applies to Lay Barges and Dive Support Vessels that deploy anchors;
and for vessels that engage in assisting in the deployment of anchor, i.e., anchor handling vessels for Chevron GoM Business
Unit.

Pre-Move Meetings
Prior to all anchor handling operations a pre-move meeting addressing, at a minimum, stop work
authority, deteriorating weather, roles and responsibilities, risk assessment, crew handover requirements,
notification procedures for mechanical malfunction/injury/spill, and stability, shall be held onshore and
offshore.

Minimum Anchor and Mooring Line Clearances

Minimum clearance distances from subsea infrastructure for the positioning or handling of mooring
equipment are set by the Chevron BU management and shall be built in to the detailed mobile unit move
procedures.
This will include, as a minimum, clearance distances from the following:
pipeline including direction of pull
The 500 / 1,000 foot rule applies when laying anchors for pipelay barges, derrick barges and dive
support vessels 2.
horizontal distance
The 500 /1,000 foot rule applies when laying anchors for pipelay barges, derrick barges and dive
support vessels 2.
vertical height
In shallow water, where the risk assessment identifies the anchor or anchor cable coming into
contact with exposed subsea structures, the Chevron Project Manager/Team shall develop a
mitigation plan to prevent underwater structures from being snagged by anchor or anchor lines.
adjacent mooring
Where the risk assessment identifies an adjacent mooring, the Chevron Project Manager/Team shall
develop a mitigation plan to address mooring and SIMOPS.
For DSVs, there should be consideration in using an anchor/assist tug when setting anchors near
platforms/risers to avoid snagging risers or structural members when deploying or recovering
anchors.
2

Anchors should not be placed closer than 500 feet from a pipeline and must be placed a
minimum of 1,000 feet from pipeline(s) when anchor wires cross over that pipeline(s). Anchors
shall be located in accordance with their company and BSEE/BOEM requirements around all
existing wells, subsea valves, structures and magnetic anomalies.
NOTE: In special circumstances and requirements where anchors are to be placed at a lesser
minimum distance from such underwater installations and where such a requirement has been

Shorebase and Marine

Transportation Manager

Gulf of Mexico SBU

Chevron North America
Exploration and Production

identified, specific anchor patterns and procedures shall be drawn up. These shall be submitted,
sufficiently in advance, to enable the Business Unit to examine and assess the implication and
assure that there is no unacceptable risk to any asset.
Minimum clearances as applied to Liftboat and Spud Barge operations are referenced in the GGoM
Liftboat Guidelines and Procedures.

Vessels involved in Anchor handling Operations

Prior to the mooring operation, the vessels to be used shall be inspected, including a verification of the
key personnels competency. The vessels Masters shall be fully briefed prior to the operation and
debriefed upon completion of the operation.

Special Considerations
When the anchor pattern calls for anchors to cross pipelines or cables, then the anchors shall be decked
on the anchor handling vessel (AHV) well clear of the pipeline or cable to be crossed and secured by a
secondary device which shall be tested to the same load or higher as the main pennant.

The decking of anchors is not a practice in the GGoM BU due to the small size of vessels used in
anchor handling and the lack of deck space. When crossing pipelines the following will apply:
A method of securing the anchor winch, i.e., dogging of winch.
The minimum number of wraps on winch drum(s) (i.e. 5 wraps) for the pendant wire is to be
specified.
A winch preventative maintenance program winch brake testing, winch inspections, etc. is
to be provided.
The pendant wire is to be the same size, as a minimum, of the main wire.
The pendant wire rope replacement schedule is to be provided.
Coordinating surveying and anchoring deployment plans in order to minimize exposure when
transiting over pipelines.
The Chevron Representative is present and available, as required, when crossing over a
pipeline(s). Diving Superintendents or Barge Superintendents should be present and available,
as required, in accordance with the vessels operating procedures.
When crossing a third party pipeline, a third party company representative should be present
during operation.
Note: As required by Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)/Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management (BOEM), in water depths of 200 feet or less, the pipelines are required to be
buried. This may reduce the severity of damage to the pipeline should the anchor line be damaged
and the anchor is dropped. Minimum pipeline burial depth is 3 feet and, in general, buried 10 feet
in fairways.

Vessels are to move away from pipeline when transferring anchor from vessel to tug.

When Chevron is aware third party operators are running anchors over Chevron pipeline(s) the
following apply:

Shorebase and Marine

Transportation Manager

Gulf of Mexico SBU

Chevron North America
Exploration and Production

Request anchor mooring plans from third party installation contractor at least 48 hours in
advance of operation.
Consult with Chevrons Land Department, as required, when working with third party
operators.
Whenever feasible, a Chevron representative should be placed on the third party contractors
vessel during the operation when it crosses a Chevron pipeline(s).
If the third party installation contractor cannot adhere to the 500 / 1,000 foot rule, then proposed anchor
placement plat diagram should be reviewed and concurred with Chevron Facilities Engineering Group.
Spelter sockets shall not to be used for anchor handling or on tow wires when recovering under load (see
Safety Flash 07-01).
Pelican hooks shall not be used for anchor handling.
In general, the blue language in this Procedure applies to vessels engaged in lay barges and Dive Support
Vessels that deploy anchors; and for vessels that engage in assisting in the deployment of anchor, i.e., anchor
handling vessels.
Questions regarding the above procedures should be directed to the Marine Expert/Advisor.

Shorebase and Marine Transportation Manager