CNOOC Lingshui 17-2 Semi-Submersible Platform Personnel Positioning Project

I. Project Background

In the field of offshore oil and gas resource development, semi‑submersible production platforms, with their exceptional stability and robust operational capabilities, have become critical assets for deepwater oil and gas extraction. CNOOC’s Lingshui 17‑2 semi‑submersible platform, the first domestically built semi‑submersible production platform with a hull weight exceeding 50,000 tonnes, marks a significant milestone. The platform shoulders the vital task of producing oil and gas from the Lingshui 17‑2 gas field, which is situated in a complex marine environment characterized by harsh sea conditions—placing extremely stringent demands on the platform’s safe production and efficient operation.

In the daily operations of an offshore platform, personnel management is a core component for ensuring safe production. The platform’s operational areas are extensive, encompassing multiple functional zones such as the deck, living quarters, equipment compartments, and oil‑gas processing facilities. With a large number of internal devices and a complex web of interconnected pipelines, the environment is both intricate and highly variable. Moreover, platform operations involve hazardous conditions—including high temperatures, high pressures, and flammable or explosive materials—so any safety incident could have catastrophic consequences. Traditional personnel management relies primarily on manual patrols and paper‑based records, which suffer from delays in information updates, inaccuracies, and difficulties in obtaining a comprehensive overview of personnel movements, thus failing to meet the platform’s safety‑management requirements. Consequently, the adoption of advanced personnel‑positioning technologies to enable real‑time, precise monitoring and control of workers on board has become an urgent necessity for safeguarding safe production.

II. Project Overview

This project focuses on the positioning management of personnel aboard CNOOC’s Lingshui 17-2 semi-submersible platform. As China’s first 50,000-ton-class semi-submersible production platform, it is large in scale, complex in structure, and operates in a unique environment. The project aims to deploy an advanced personnel positioning system to achieve real-time location tracking and comprehensive management of the platform’s 100 staff members, thereby enhancing the efficiency and safety of personnel management and providing robust support for the platform’s safe and stable operation.

III. Implementation Plan

(1) Selection of Positioning Technology

Following a comprehensive evaluation of multiple positioning technologies and extensive field testing, the project ultimately selected an integrated indoor–outdoor Bluetooth-based positioning solution. This technology leverages the strengths of Bluetooth signals for indoor localization while offering scalability for outdoor applications, enabling high‑accuracy positioning even in the complex environment of offshore platforms. Moreover, Bluetooth boasts low power consumption, relatively low costs, and excellent device compatibility, making it well suited for large‑scale deployment and widespread use.

(II) Equipment Deployment Plan

Beacon Deployment: Based on the platform’s layout and personnel movement patterns, technicians strategically deployed 518 Bluetooth Beacons across the site. The Beacons were installed at key locations throughout the platform—such as corridor walls, equipment room doorways, and stairwells—creating a dense signal network that ensures seamless Bluetooth coverage across the entire area. The installation height and spacing of the Beacons were carefully calculated to ensure signal stability and accurate positioning.

Beacon Installation: Thirteen Beacon Base Stations have been installed as the core equipment of the Positioning System. They are responsible for receiving signals transmitted by Bluetooth Beacons and chest-mounted locators, and for processing and transmitting the data. The Beacon Base Stations are mounted at elevated locations on the platform or in areas with signal concentration to ensure comprehensive and timely signal reception. Additionally, to guarantee stable operation, they are equipped with robust protection measures against lightning, moisture, and corrosion.

Beacon and Base Station Deployment: Beacon and Base Station devices were distributed to the 100 staff members on the platform. These compact, lightweight locators are easy to wear and feature a built-in Bluetooth module and battery, enabling long-lasting operation. Each locator is linked to the user’s identity information and communicates with nearby Beacons and Base Stations via Bluetooth signals, transmitting its location data in real time to the backend management system.

(3) System Integration and Debugging

The personnel Positioning System was integrated with the platform’s existing safety management system, video surveillance system, and others, enabling data sharing and interoperability. Following system deployment, comprehensive debugging and optimization were carried out. Through field testing and data analysis, Beacon parameters and positioning algorithms were adjusted and refined to ensure positioning accuracy meets the 3–5 meter requirement. Meanwhile, the system’s stability and reliability were rigorously tested to guarantee normal operation under various complex environmental conditions.

IV. Functional Applications

(1) Real-time Personnel Positioning

The backend management system can display the precise locations of 100 staff members on the platform in real time. On the electronic map, each person’s position is clearly indicated by an icon, allowing administrators to intuitively grasp the distribution of personnel. By clicking on a personnel icon, users can access detailed information, including name, department, job title, and contact details. In the event of an emergency, administrators can quickly pinpoint the location of affected individuals and promptly initiate command and rescue operations.

(II) Line‑Intrusion Alarm for Hazardous Areas

To ensure safe production on the platform, the system has designated multiple hazardous zones, including oil and gas processing areas, high-voltage switchgear rooms, and storage areas for flammable and explosive materials. When personnel enter these hazardous zones, the system immediately triggers audible and visual alarms and displays alert messages on the backend management platform, providing administrators with information on the intruder’s identity, location, and time of entry. Simultaneously, the locator emits a vibration alert to prompt the individual to leave the hazardous area promptly. Furthermore, the system can integrate with the platform’s access control system: if unauthorized personnel attempt to enter a hazardous zone, the corresponding access point is automatically locked to prevent the incident from escalating.

(3) Trajectory Query

The system automatically records personnel movement trajectories, enabling managers to query, as needed, an individual’s travel routes and locations at any point in time. By analyzing this trajectory data, it is possible to gain insights into employees’ work habits and activity patterns, thereby identifying potential safety hazards. For example, if a person is found to frequently linger near hazardous areas, timely warnings and training can be provided. Additionally, the trajectory‑query function can be leveraged for accident investigations and liability determination, offering robust data support for incident analysis.

(4) Video Integration

When the Positioning System detects an abnormal situation, such as a person entering a hazardous area or remaining there for an extended period, the system automatically triggers the video linkage function. The backend management platform will automatically switch to the camera feed of the corresponding area, enabling management personnel to view the on-site conditions in real time and make timely decisions and take appropriate actions. At the same time, the video linkage function can also be used for routine safety inspections and monitoring, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of safety management. Management personnel can use the video feed to conduct real-time voice communication with on-site staff, providing guidance on proper procedures or evacuation.

V. Project Outcomes

Through the implementation of this project, CNOOC’s Lingshui 17‑2 semi‑submersible platform has achieved a significant improvement in personnel management. The real-time personnel positioning and boundary‑intrusion alarm functions enable management to promptly track staff movements, effectively preventing unauthorized access to hazardous areas and reducing the risk of safety incidents. The trajectory‑query feature provides robust data support for accident investigations and safety management, helping to identify potential safety hazards and facilitate timely corrective actions. Meanwhile, the video‑integration function enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of safety management, allowing supervisors to respond swiftly to and address various abnormal situations. The successful deployment of this project has yielded valuable experience and best practices for personnel‑location management on domestic offshore platforms, thereby advancing the overall level of safety management on such facilities.