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.