Offshore platform from a bare patch of sea to a finished oil platform

From a bare patch of sea to a finished oil platform ready to be sparked

Types of Offshore Platforms

1. Fixed Platforms

Fixed platforms are immobile structures attached to the seabed, commonly used in shallow waters. They include:

• Jack-Up Rigs: Equipped with legs that can be raised or lowered to reach the seabed. They are often used for temporary drilling operations.
• Gravity-Based Structures (GBS): Massive concrete or steel structures that use their weight to stay in place on the seabed.
• Conductor Supported Platforms: Utilize long conductors driven into the seabed to provide stability and support for the platform.

2. Floating Platforms

Floating platforms are movable structures that operate in deeper waters. They include:

• Semi-Submersible Platforms: Supported by buoyant columns or pontoons, partially submerged to reduce movement in rough seas.
• Tension-Leg Platforms (TLPs): Anchored to the seabed using tensioned mooring lines, maintaining stability despite surface waves.
• FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading): Used for oil and gas production, with storage facilities for processed hydrocarbons.
• Spar Platforms: Tall and narrow structures that float vertically, anchored to the seabed by a mooring system.

3. Subsea Templates

Subsea templates are structures installed on the seabed to support wellheads and pipelines. They include:

• Manifolds: Connect multiple wells to a single pipeline for fluid transportation.
• Christmas Trees: Control systems installed on wellheads to regulate flow.
• Subsea Processing Units: Equipment used for processing hydrocarbons on the seabed, eliminating the need for surface facilities.