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Questions and Answers
What is the primary advantage of semisubmersible platforms?
What is the main feature that distinguishes drillships from other offshore structures?
What is the primary function of an FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) unit?
Which type of offshore structure is least suitable for open sea conditions?
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What is the purpose of the pontoons and columns in a semisubmersible platform?
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Which of the following statements about drillships is true?
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Which type of offshore structure is described as having a drilling platform and derrick in the middle of its deck?
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What is the primary difference between semisubmersible platforms and submersible rigs?
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Which of the following statements about FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) is false?
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Which of the following offshore structures is most commonly used for offshore drilling operations?
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Study Notes
Technical Basis for Developing Novel Offshore Structures
- Drilling barges are used for shallow-water inland drilling in areas such as canals, lakes, rivers, and marshes, but are not suitable for open sea conditions due to water movement.
Offshore Structures
- Semisubmersible platforms are offshore oil rigs with floating drill units that incorporate pontoons and columns, and can sink to a predetermined depth if flooded.
- They are the most common type of offshore drilling rig and come in three types: ship-shaped, column-stabilized, and bottle-type semisubmersibles.
- Dynamic Positioned Drillships are ships used for drilling operations, featuring a drilling platform and derrick, and a "moonpool" for the drill string to extend into the water.
- FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) is a production system that separates and treats crude oil and gas, and stores the treated oil for export.
Offshore Engineering
- Offshore structures differ from onshore structures in terms of pre-service and in-service characteristics, with fabrication, assembly, and installation taking place onshore and offshore.
- Construction methods, material specifications, and acceptable construction tolerances differ between offshore and onshore structures.
Oil and Gas Field Developments
- A preliminary decision to develop an oil or gas field is made after studies defining the reservoir, evaluating site and environmental characteristics, and identifying technically feasible development concepts.
- Field development parameters include reservoir characteristics, drilling, production, and export requirements, site and environmental characteristics, and design rules and regulations.
Field Development Parameters
- Reservoir characteristics include the type of oil or gas, and its properties.
- Drilling, production, and export requirements include the number of production and injection wells, system capacities, and production specifics.
- Site and environmental characteristics include water depth, foundation material, seismicity, ice, wind, wave, and current.
- Design rules and regulations, and management philosophy also influence field development.
Structure Types
- Bottom-Supported Structures include jacket- and tower-type fixed platforms, jackups, gravity base structures, and subsea production systems.
- Compliant structures include guyed towers and delta towers that rotate about their base and generate inertia forces to reduce net applied loads.
- Floating Structures include semisubmersibles, FPSO, and dynamic positioned drillships.
Bottom-Supported Structures
- Jacket platforms are a type of bottom-supported structure.
- Jack-up platforms are a type of bottom-supported structure.
- Subsea systems can be installed in both shallow and deep waters, and are used for extraction and transfer, not drilling.
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Description
Learn about the unique characteristics of offshore structures compared to onshore structures, including fabrication, transportation, and installation methods. Explore the construction methods, material specifications, and tolerances specific to offshore engineering.
