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B00695211
DALHOSUIE UNIVERSITY
CHEE 4803 – Oil and Gas Processing
ASSIGNMENT 1
Submission date……………………………………………………………….29/01/2018
Objectives:
1. To be able to understand the principles and rationale behind the use of different offshore
production platforms
2. To be able to match each offshore production system to related water depths
3. To be able to know where these productions systems are used
Tasks
You are to perform the following tasks:
1. Give the engineering definition of each platform
2. Explain the design and operating principles
3. Identify the water depth it is mostly used
4. Identify what field size determines the preference for a platform over the other for the
same water depth
5. For each platform give at least one location where it is used as a production system
Question
The following are the offshore oil and gas production systems encountered in the petroleum
industry:
Fixed platforms
A fixed platform consists of a welded tubular steel jacket, deck and surface facility. The
jackets and decks act as the foundation for the surface facilities.
The stands are physically attached to the sea floor. The legs are build using concrete and
steel, to secure drilling platform in an offshore
Very stable, limited exposure to movement due to wind and water.
Low cost compared to other facilities but immovable
Installed in large oil field for maximum profit
The water depth for the fixed platform is approximately 2000 ft or 610m
Used in Manatee Field, Gulf of Mexico
Kovend Munirajan
B00695211
Complainant platforms
Almost similar like fixed platforms but they consist of a narrow tower attached to a
foundation on the seafloor up to the platform
The design is consisted of a narrow and flexible framed structures supported by piled
foundations
Flexible, opposed to the rigid legs of a fixed platform.
This enabled to operate in deep water and able to absorb pressure caused by wind and
sea; also hurricane conditions.
The depth for the complainant platform ranges from 1000 to 3000 ft (310 to 900m )
Relatively lower cost than gravity based structures but it has much higher risk than
gravity based structure.
Effective for large and medium scale oil field; simple and cheaper construction cost
Semi-submersible platforms
A floating type platform, which shares similar working mechanism of a submarine. It
uses buoyancy concept to keep the rig safe and reduce the effect of the ocean waves.
Semi-submersible platform (SSP) is an offshore oil rig consist of floating drill that
includes columns and pontoons.
the rig is a floating deck supported by submerged pontoons. A series of anchors and
mooring lines are used to keep the platform secure.
The depth ranges from 2900 –3900 ft ( 900 to 1200m)
This works great for harsh water and has high mobility but has high cost of drilling.
Recommended for a small scale oil field.
Gulf of Mexico, Brazilian coast
Jack-up platforms
Floating platform, often used in super deep water ( more than 1500m)
Jack-up platforms has a self-elevating rig, and it is used for smaller, shallower offshore
deposits
The rig’s floating platform is towed into position by barges, then lowers its support legs
down to the sea floor, raising the rig above the water’s surface.
Highly mobile and low construction cost but much lower drilling capacity.
Jack platforms are widely because of low construction cost. Once extraction is done it
can be placed on the heavy lift vessel for transport.
Singapore shore
Kovend Munirajan
B00695211
Spar platforms
A floating type platform consist of large cylinder to support a typical fixed rig deck and
to stabilize the platform in water.
The cylinder is connected with a series of cables and lines to tether the bottom and
therefore itself does not touch the seafloor. It has among the highest resistance for water
movements and potential hurricanes.
It is a wellheads type which is encircled by helical strakes to mitigate the effects of
vortex-induced motion.
Spar platforms can accommodate production trees on the platform dock and storage units,
it is less sensitive than tension leg platform in deep water.
Spar platforms can have the ability to have vertical access to wells and allow surface
welheads.
Limited center well space for large number of spar top tension risers. Less support for top
tension risers in very deep water. Expensive model and sensitive to environment.
Spars units can be installed in water depths of 6,000 ft (1,800 m) or more
Gulf of Mexico, USA Coast, Malaysia
Reference
Offshore-mag.com. (2018). Fixed platforms remain important production facilities after more than 60
years. [online] Available at: http://www.offshore-mag.com/articles/print/volume-67/issue-
9/supplement/fixed-platforms-remain-important-production-facilities-after-more-than-60-years.html
[Accessed 26 Jan. 2018].
Offshore Technology. (2018). Manatee Field, Gulf of Mexico - Offshore Technology. [online] Available
at: https://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/manatee/ [Accessed 26 Jan. 2018].
Valenchon, C. (2006). Overview: Offshore Facilities: Construction and Design (February 2006). Journal
of Petroleum Technology, 58(02), pp.68-68.