Program Overview
Why this course?
This course is for graduates in naval architecture, offshore engineering, mechanical engineering and related disciplines who want to gain advanced knowledge of subsea systems, designs and installation. This includes systems and equipment such as:
pipelines
wellheads
drilling rigs
riser and mooring systems
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, (IMarEST) on behalf of the UK Engineering Council.
What you’ll study
The programme consists of three components:
instructional modules
group project
individual project (MSc only)
Group project
You’ll be part of a group of three to five people in ‘consultant teams’ for 10 weeks addressing a practical engineering problem. You’ll then have the opportunity to present the report to a panel of industrial experts.
This project will enhance your team working and communication skills. It also provides valuable access to industrial contacts.
It'll give you a good understanding of all aspects of research work. In addition, the technological study must be accompanied by a survey of the relevance and applicability of the findings to the maritime industries at large.
You'll learn efficient ways to gather information, to distribute workload and to delegate amongst the group, to analyse their results and to appreciate the broader implications of the whole project. In-depth technological studies will be accompanied by increasingly important competence in managerial skills, quality assurance and a sound appreciation of the economic, political, social and environmental issues crucial to professional success.
Individual project (MSc only)
MSc students will take on an individual dissertation on a topic of their own interest. The aim of the individual project is to develop your research skills and to combine many of the aspects learned from other modules within a specific topic. This'll be achieved by you carrying out work into a particular topic relating to your chosen theme and preparing a dissertation.
Facilities
We have excellent teaching facilities including:
Catalina – our departmental racing yacht
Kelvin Hydrodynamics Lab – the largest ship-model experiment tank in any UK university
Towing/wave tank exclusively for teaching purposes
Marine engine laboratory
Cutting-edge computer facilities
Industry standard software
Student competitions
NAOME supports and promotes students in various competitions and awards, from cash bursaries for top performing students to the highest of awards from international organisations.
In recent years, students from NAOME have been triumphant in the following high profile competitions:
Science, Engineering & Technology Student of the Year (SET Awards)
Best Maritime Technology Student (SET Awards)
Double winner of BP’s Ultimate Field Trip Competition
Strathclyder of the Year
Program Outline
Course content
A typical selection of classes offered on the programme are outlined below. Please note that these classes may be subject to change.
Semester 1
Semester 2
Risers & Mooring Lines
This module aims to:
give an overview of the current deep-water oil and gas developments around the world and the technical challenges in terms of riser and mooring line design
demonstrate methods for modelling and analysing risers and mooring lines
This module covers:
oil & gas field development options: platform types, marine riser systems, current design trends and deep-water challenges
riser systems: flexible pipe structure, typical configurations, top-tensioned vertical risers, hybrid risers.
flow assurance: multi-phase flow, deposition of solids, thermal management
riser analysis: governing equations, boundary conditions, natural frequency
mooring lines: typical mooring configuration, material and construction, anchors and ancillary equipment, static mooring line analysis
vortex induced vibration: drag, vortex shedding, surface roughness, lift, Strouhal number, VIV assessment, fatigue life calculation
On completion of the module you're expected to have
an overview of mooring lines and marine risers for deep-water floating offshore platforms
an understanding of the generic hydrodynamic issues
a grasp of the analytical
umerical methods for analysing risers and mooring lines
You'll carry out the coursework individually using the knowledge taught during lectures and computer lab sessions.
Subsurface Technology
This module aims to:
engender an appreciation of the role and importance of oil and gas within the global energy mix and climate change
introduce the basic engineering principles of drilling for hydrocarbons in on- and off-shore locations
provide knowledge of drilling systems, developing skills in fluid flow, drill string design and casing design for drilling systems
increase knowledge and understanding of the role of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in future developments in subsurface technology
The module covers:
the “Energy Conundrum” and history of oil well drilling: analysis of the role of hydrocarbons in the energy economy and a historical overview of the drilling process
petroleum geochemistry and geology: description of petroleum systems and trapping mechanisms and an introduction to petroleum surveys; wire line logs and seismic surveys
the oil well: an introduction to the different types of rig design, a description of the oil well including details of the hoisting tackle, drilling bits, the role of drilling mud and an overview of how to drill a well
drill string design: principles of drill string design
casing design: types of casing and principles of casing design; casing point selection and an introduction to the concept of fracture gradient
drilling hydraulics: principles of fluid flow in pipes, annular flow and flow through nozzles
directional drilling: principles of different drilling types (straight and directional) and the calculation of nozzle sizing
introduction CCS: introduction to CCS including capture, transportation and storage
At the end of this module you'll be able to:
analyse energy and climate change statistics and draw conclusions relating to the role of hydrocarbons
describe and identify the key components in hydrocarbon drilling
solve engineering design problems relating to drilling engineering
discuss the principles of and present arguments for the use of CCS in subsurface technology
Assessment is via a written examination at the end of the semester.
Marine Pipelines
This module aims to provide you with an in-depth insight into marine pipelines, emphasising the overall design process, pipeline hydraulics analysis, installation methods, environmental loading and stability, materials selection, and corrosion prevention.
This module covers:
design overview and process; Diameter and wall thickness; Installation methods; Operation and integrity management; Environmental conditions; Dynamic loading; Lateral stability; Scour; Free span; Trenching
internal fluids; Single and two-phase flows; Pressure and thermal profiles; Wax; Hydrate; Thermal insulation; Flow assurance; Drag reduction
materials and corrosion; Pipeline material; Steelmaking; Manufacture of linepipe for onshore and offshore applications; Internal corrosion; Corrosion detection and control; External corrosion and mitigation
On completion of the module, you're expected to:
have an overview of marine pipelines with regard to their design, installation, operation, and maintenance
gain an understanding of some fundamentals of marine pipeline design and analysis
apply analysis tools for pipeline hydraulics, multi-phase flows and thermal protection
identify the differences between pipe grades and pipe manufacturing methods
identify risk areas for internal and external corrosion in marine pipelines and describe the methods for corrosion inspection and control and select appropriate mitigation methods
Assessment will be in the form of coursework.
Finite Element Analysis of Floating Structures
This module aims to provide you with a theoretical and practical knowledge of the finite element method and the skills required to analyse marine structures with ANSYS graphical user interface (GUI).
This module covers:
introduction to finite element analysis and ANSYS GUI
truss elements and applications
solid elements and applications
beam elements and applications
plane stress, plane strain and axisymmetry concepts
plane elements and applications
plate & shell elements and applications
assembly process and constructing of the global stiffness matrix
At the end of this module you'll be able to:
understand the basics of finite element analysis
understand how to perform finite element analysis by using a commercial finite element software
understand specifying necessary input parameters for the analysis
understand how to visualize and evaluate the results
There is one exam and one coursework assignment. The exam is during the exam period of the first semester. Exam has a weight of 70% and coursework assignment has a weight of 30%.
Maritime Safety & Risk
This module aims to demonstrate how the principles and methods of risk analysis are undertaken and reflected in safety assessment. Risk analysis offers a variety of methods, tools and techniques that can be applied in solving problems covering different phases of the life cycle of a vessel (design, construction, operation and end-of-life) and, as such, this module will also elaborate on the practicalities of its application to a range of marine scenarios.
This module covers:
safety, risk and risk analysis; key terminology; lessons learnt from past experience; human factors.
formal safety assessment
hazard Identification
frequency analysis and consequence modelling
quantitative risk assessment methods
risk control and decision support, cost benefit analysis
human Factors and Safety culture in the maritime
industry guest lectures addressing topical issues related to maritime safety and risk
At the end of this module you'll be able to:
understand the concepts and importance of safety, risk and of all requisite fundamentals enabling quantification of risk in the maritime context
utilise methods and tools undertaking fundamental studies, specific to any component, system or function and in general first-principles implementation to life-cycle design
understand and have experience of the use of risk analysis in the marine field via related case studies (risk-based ship design, operation and regulation).
be able to appreciate components of a formal safety assessment and apply it for indicative problems of maritime operations
Assessment and feedback are in the form of one final exam (during Semester-2 diet) and two coursework assignments (assignment-one focusses on accident investigation, assignment-two is a safety assessment case study).
Dynamics of Floating Offshore Installations
This module aims to provide knowledge in order to understand the factors influencing the dynamic behaviour of floating offshore structures due to environmental forces. It also aims to develop skills in order to predict the dynamic motion response of floating offshore platforms.
This module will teach the following:
Overview of basic design concepts; environmental design considerations; wave, wind and current induced motions and loads; second-order wave induced forces and responses of floating and complaint structures; soil-structure interaction.
On completion of the module the you're expected to be able to:
predict the environmental forces and resulting motions of semi-submersibles, floating production, storage and offloading systems, tension leg platforms, SPAR buoys and fixed lattice and gravity type platforms
determine the soil-structure interaction for the design of a foundation for a gravity base structure
Assessment and feedback is in the form of an exam: problem-solving on prediction of wave excitation forces on and resulting motions of floating structures and/or the assessment of a foundation of a gravity base structure.
Marine Pipeline Integrity
The aims of this module are to:
enable you to identify the key threats to marine pipeline systems
introduce the basic engineering tools and principles used in the integrity assessment of pipelines
develop skills in the assessment of cracks, dents and corrosion defects in pipelines under static and dynamic loading conditions
increase knowledge and understanding of pipeline inspection techniques and to enable the selection of the most appropriate technique for the identified threats to the pipeline
This module covers:
Introduction to Pipeline Structural Analysis: Identification of threats and failure modes for pipeline systems. Application of risk assessment to integrity management planning.
Fracture Mechanics: The theory of fracture mechanics as it relates to pipeline systems; the application of international codes and standards for the assessment of cracks in pipeline systems; ductile and brittle fracture propagation in pipeline systems.
Fatigue Analysis: The theory of pipeline fatigue, including S-N and fracture mechanics approaches for determining fatigue life and cycle counting methods for determining fatigue loading.
Dent Assessment: Analysis of dent and dent/gouge defects in pipelines under dynamic and static loading.
Corrosion Assessment: The application of deterministic and probabilistic corrosion assessment methods to marine pipelines and the use of sentence plots to determine repair plans for corrosion defects.
Pipeline Inspection Techniques: The use of external and internal tools for the detection, identification and sizing of defects in pipelines (e.g. AUVs, ROVs, divers, in-line and tethered inspection tools); the use of monitoring techniques for the CP system.
Repair and Maintenance Strategies: Determination of appropriate repair and maintenance strategies for pipelines and the selection of appropriate inspection intervals.
At the end of this module you'll be able to:
analyse pipeline integrity data and draw conclusions relating to the key threats on the pipeline
select appropriate assessment methods, codes and standards for the key threats to the pipeline system
solve engineering problems relating to pipeline structural integrity
discuss the principles of pipeline inspection techniques and select the appropriate inspection technique for the identified threats to the pipeline system
Assessment is via two written examinations at the end of the semester.
Underwater Vehicles
This module is aimed to introduce you to a comprehensive understanding of underwater vehicles as opposite to surface vehicles. This module will cover various kind of underwater vehicles, ranging from mega submarines to working-class remotely operated vehicles (ROV) till the state-of-the-art autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), from a naval architecture’s perspective of view to tackle the challenges in resistance & propulsion, manoeuvring, sensing, and underwater navigation, etc.
This module covers:
introduction to underwater vehicle: submarine, torpedo, remotely operated vehicles (ROV), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), underwater glider, wave glider
underwater environment: ocean wave, current, temperature, salinity, internal wave
resistance of underwater vehicle: axisymmetric body design, surface to volume ratio, super cavitation
propulsion of underwater vehicle: marine propeller, contra-rotating propeller, ducted propeller, rim-driven propeller; pump jet, kort nozzle, vectored propulsion
manoeuvring of underwater vehicle: rudders, fins, buoyancy control, ballast
underwater navigation: Inertial Navigation System/Doppler Velocity Log (INS/DVL)
underwater communication: acoustic, radio frequency, optical communication
On completion of the module you're expected to be able to:
achieve a comprehensive understanding of design and development of underwater vehicles and the associated sub-system on-board
gain the ability to select, design and model the specified underwater vehicles and to evaluate the performance of the designed underwater vehicle
understand the operation of underwater vehicle, familiarise with the on-board payload, understand the buoyancy control, the pressure compensator, underwater navigation, etc
Assessment is 50% group project and 50% final essay.
Group Design Project
The overall aim of the module is to provide you with an enriched experience in the selection, conceptualisation and designing of a novel vessel or an offshore asset. The group projects will also include a thorough market review, concept and focused design studies and techno-economic analysis in a simulated design project environment. It will also provide you with an opportunity to present their project outputs to a panel involving academic/industry staff.
This module covers:
development of a broad but nevertheless critical review of prospects for techno-economic growth in maritime related activities in a particular context/area of the world
proposal and evaluation of specific design-related activities with a view to developing a design project to a concept level but with substantial calculations in at least one design objective
demonstration of analytical ability and understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving techniques, creativity and self-reflection
the ability to present and defend the design choices to a panel.
At the end of this module you'll be able to:
identify and prioritize the key-design issues along with their basic interrelations in the context of naval architecture
materialize a design project according to a given timeline through design steps along the key-design-issues priority path
work efficiently and openly in a collaborative context involving different cultures and expertise
choose at each design step the proper rationally-based computation methods
Assessment and feedback are in the form of either design report or presentation. There will be five tasks: each task may include the submission of a design report or an oral presentation followed by questions from the lecturers and the advisory groups.
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Learning & teaching
There are two teaching semesters of 11 weeks each.
Course modules are delivered in the form of formal lectures supported with tutorials and laboratory experiments.
You’re required to attend an induction prior to the start of the course.
Guest lectures
During term time, we arrange weekly seminars in which leaders and pioneers of the maritime, oil and gas and marine renewables industries visit the department and present to students. This is a great way of supplementing your education with the latest developments and gaining industry contacts for your future career.
Industrial visits are also made to a variety of companies.
Assessment
There are two types of method for module assessment. One is course work assessment only, the other is exam assessment. For examined modules the final assessment mark consists of 30-40% course work marks and 60-70% exam marks.
Student competitions
The Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering supports and promotes students in various competitions and awards, from cash bursaries for top performing students to the highest of awards from international organisations.
In recent years, our students have been triumphant in the following high profile competitions:
Science, Engineering & Technology Student of the Year (SET Awards)
Best Maritime Technology Student (SET Awards)
Double winner of BP’s Ultimate Field Trip Competition
Strathclyder of the Year
Careers
Offshore hydrocarbon activities are moving into area of water depths exceeding 2000m. Subsea drilling, production and control systems are becoming much more important. Therefore, subsea engineers are in great demand world-wide.
Job titles include:
Drilling Fuel specialist
I-Drill Engineer
Junior Riser Engineer
Subsea Engineer
Well Engineer
Project Engineer
Employers include:
2H Offshore
Aker Solutions
BP
ENI Saipem
Subsea7
Talisman Energy
Technip
Schlumberger
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
Life in Glasgow
