OFFSHORE PETROLEUM PRODUCTION FACILITIES RESEARCH

Offshore petroleum production facilities must meet the tests of being fully satisfactory from operability, environmental, legal, safety, and cost standpoints. Extensive research in many phases of offshore facilities design to achieve these goals are described. Meteorological and oceanographic data gathered over many years by petroleum operators using a variety of special equipment are described. Standard statistical techniques have been used to extrapolate these data to the maximum conditions needed for design. Using these maximum conditions, forces on structures are calculated. The force calculation techniques have been compared with measured values to ensure reliability. Techniques for calculating forces due to earthquakes are as complex as for hurricanes. Important considerations include anticipated ground motion and the stiffness and mass distribution of the platform, and damping. A description of the calculational procedure is given. A number of different deepwater production systems are being developed and have merit in certain situations. The characteristics of each are described briefly. A subsurface separation tank which has been operating underwater in the Gulf of Mexico for over a year is discussed. Spectacular advances in deepwater drilling have been made possible by improvements in mooring and positioning, drilling risers, blowout preventers, and other safety devices. Development of a new anchor is discussed. Techniques for calculating tension in mooring lines and for calculating riser stresses are described. Riser improvements discussed include use of ball joints, buoyant materials, and integral kill and choke lines.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the 7th Annual Conference of the Mar-Tech-Society, August 1971.
• Corporate Authors:

  Marine Technology Society

  5565 Sterrett Place, Suite 108
  Columbia, MD  United States  21044
• Authors:
  • Rickard, J A
• Conference:
  • Presented at the 7th Annual Conference of the Mar-Tech-Society, August 1971.
• Publication Date: 1971-8

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 184-207

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Force; Mooring; Moorings; Offshore drilling platforms; Waves
• Old TRIS Terms: Wave forces on structures
• Subject Areas: Design; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00032678
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Marine Technology Society
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 28 1972 12:00AM