Simulation of back-deck operations on a marine seismic vessel

Marine seismic vessels deploy exploration equipment from their back decks in configurations called streamers. Streamers are kept afloat by towing and extend over many kilometers. Streamer deployment in a new area, called mobilization, is a complex process and typically takes four to five days. This time is considered part of the operational overhead and is not billed to the clients. Since revenues are measured in tens of thousands of dollars per day, reducing deployment times directly affects profit. We developed a discrete-event simulation model of back-deck operations to better understand and improve deployment times. Our study led to a new mobilization procedure for deploying two streamers simultaneously, yielding a 30 percent improvement in deployment times. The model also allowed us to answer what-if questions about back-deck operations and has led directly to new equipment designs for the latest generation of marine seismic vessels.