See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/347579384

Design: Floating Offshore Platform

Technical Report · December 2020

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.28860.26248

CITATIONS READS

0 1,690

3 authors, including:

Tamzeed Ahmed Alvy Foyez Ahmad

Islamic University of Technology Islamic University of Technology
17 PUBLICATIONS   1 CITATION    7 PUBLICATIONS   0 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Energy and Exergy Analysis of Turbofan Engines. View project

Solar Tracking System View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Tamzeed Ahmed Alvy on 22 December 2020.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Islamic University of Technology

Design: Floating Offshore Platform

Tamzeed Ahmed Alvy

170011063
Fossil Fuel Engineering: MCE - 4671
20-12-2020
Summary:
This technical paper is aimed to generate a general understanding of floating offshore platforms
which are generally used for the extraction, production and transportation of crude oil and
natural gas. A case study has been discussed on a specific type of floating offshore platform.
This paper has been designed for creating a general understanding. Any in depth discussion of
components is not within the scope of this paper.
Contents:
1. Introduction-
• Offshore platforms.
• Floating offshore platforms.
2. Types of floating offshore platforms.
3. Design Process.
• Concept stage
• Functional Requirements
• Arrangements
• Hydrostatic Subdivision
• Hydrodynamic
• Structural Design and Analysis
• Mooring foundation design
• Weight control
• Cost analysis
4. Case study.
• FPSO: Floating Production Storage and Offloading System
5. Conclusion.
Introduction:
An oil platform, offshore platform, or offshore drilling rig is a large structure with facilities for
well drilling to explore, extract, store, and process petroleum and natural gas that lies in rock
formations beneath the seabed. There are many different types of facilities from which offshore
drilling operations take place. These include bottom founded drilling rigs (jack up barges and
swamp barges), combined drilling and production facilities, either bottom founded or floating
platforms, and deep water mobile offshore drilling units (MODU), including semi-
submersibles and drill ships. These are capable of operating in water depths up to 3,000 meters
(9,800 ft). In shallower waters, the mobile units are anchored to the seabed. However, in deeper
water (more than 1,500 meters (4,900 ft)), the semisubmersibles or drill ships are maintained
at the required drilling location using dynamic positioning. [1]

Offshore Platforms:
Offshore exploration and the production of crude oil and gas has advanced far beyond the 100
by 300 feet platform secured to a foundation of wood piles serving as a base of an early offshore
well which was drilled on the Gulf of Mexico in 1938. The construction of offshore structures
is expensive. Mobile exploration rigs drill wells to determine the presence or absence of crude
oil and natural gas. If hydrocarbon mixtures are found in sufficient quantity, then the well is
plugged until a permanent structure is built. Modern offshore rigs operate where crude oil and
natural gas is found and in addition, it also transports to offshore refineries and plants on lands.
Exploration, drilling, and production of crude oil and natural gas involve a wide range of
advanced technologies which are similar to land-based rigs. However, additional technologies
included are related to marine environment. Unlike land-based rigs, offshore operations involve
meteorology, naval architecture, mooring and anchoring techniques. As wells as those,
buoyancy, stability and trim of the vessel or platform is of utmost importance. [2]

Fig 1: Creole field, Gulf of Mexico, 1938. [3]

Floating Offshore Platforms:

Floating structures have been in use since the 1950s. Since then, they have become increasingly
popular for production of natural gas and crude oil, particularly in deep water.
But they pose design challenges which are new in this sector. A few examples of these are:
1. Controlling weight and stability become a key design driver.
2. Loads on moorings and equipment are governed by the dynamic response.
3. Consideration of fatigue.
4. New material is required for risers and moorings in ultra-deep waters.
5. Installation of the platforms, moorings and decks in deep waters pose new
challenges.
6. Some new challenges related to the environment are:
• Large currents in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
• High seas and strong currents in the North Atlantic.
• Long period swells in West Africa. [4]

Types of floating platforms:

Floating platforms are typically used as an early production system. It keeps production up
while the fixed platform is being prepared for the main operation.
The three main types of floating offshore platforms are discussed below:

1. Tension leg platforms or tethered buoyant structures:

This is a commonly known type of floating platform. This structure is used for oil and
gas exploration sites where the water depth are over 500 meters. Its working principle
is similar to the taught moored buoy which is anchored to the seabed. This type is still
under development and many of its flaws are needed to be ironed out. Also, extensive
economic assessments are needed to be carried out.

2. SPAR:
 SPAR is designed to present a small profile with minimal effect on wind and current.
It uses an elongated cylindrical structure which floats in much the same way as an
iceberg and moored to the seabed using steel or polyester cables. Due to the shape of
the underwater profile, it is more vulnerable to vortex shedding (eddies) and thus results
in significant vibrations.

3. Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO):

An FPSO is used in the offshore industry for the extraction, production and processing
of hydrocarbons and the storage of oil. FPSOs are preferred in frontier offshore regions
as they are easy to install, and do not require a local pipeline infrastructure to export
oil. Old oil tankers can be converted into FPSOs or new ones can be built from the
ground up. A vessel used only to store oil (without processing it) is referred to as a
Floating Storage and Offloading vessel (FSO). [5]

Fig2 : TLP, SPAR and FPSO [6]

Before designing the platform, some factors are needed to be considered. These are:
1. Design of floaters and other offshore structures is often based on published industry
standards and classification rules. There are a number of international conventions
and regulations governing floating systems design which must be reviewed prior to
operating a vessel.
2. Industry standards and rules are written to reflect past design practices that have
proven successful. They do not necessarily cover new or ‘‘novel’’ structures.
3. It is a standard practice when designing a new structure to fall back on standards
used for more established structures, but this is not foolproof.
4. The other important point to make here is that as the industry moves to deeper water
the floater cannot be considered as simply a piece of real estate to hold a payload
 and to support risers. The dynamics of the floater can be affected by the risers and
mooring systems. An inadequate hull mooring system design can invalidate the use
of certain types of risers or riser components. The layout of equipment may result
in an eccentric weight, which must be compensated by a large amount of ballast,
increasing the total amount of displacement needed.
5. A common mistake is to select and design the hull before the well layout and the
riser makeup has been finalized, let alone analyzed. [4]

Design Process:
A. Concept stage:

The process of designing a floating offshore platform can be a lengthy and tedious
work. The perception of the oil or gas field based on the geological features and drilling
operations are important. There are several ‘appraisal’ wells drilled following the
‘discovery’ well. It is the later one that determines if extraction is viable or not.

There are also some fundamental decisions that are needed to be made. These are:
• How the wells are located and structured?
• How will the drilling and completion of the wells be performed?
• How will the oil be processed and sold to the market?
An important factor is the appreciation of the method of construction and installation.
The local conditions, quay availability, weather etc., play a huge role in limiting the
ability to construct and install. Typically drilling costs make up around 50% of the
total value and the floater, installed and moored, takes around only 15% of the value.

B. Functional Requirements:

Numerous functional requirements have to be satisfied before designing an offshore

floating platform. These are:

1. Buoyancy must equal weight plus vertical loads from the moorings and risers.
2. The space available must equal or exceed the space required for the functions to be
performed.
3. Motions, station-keeping and stability must meet minimum criteria.

C. Arrangements:
 Space requirements for deck and hull equipment need to be accommodated. Preparation
of a layout of the decks on the topsides and the hull should be prepared for the indication
of adequate space. Arrangement of compartments for the ballast and storage of liquids
need to be determined. Also, to estimate wind loads, an elevation plan should be
arranged.

D. Hydrostatic Subdivision:

Floaters are required to float in a safe and stable condition even if a buoyant space is
accidentally flooded due to human error or by accident. Internal subdivision tanks need
to be installed according to the criteria.

Table 1: Rule of thumb for different configurations.

E. Hydrodynamic:

Floater motion is affected by its configuration. After the buoyancy and the stability are
within acceptable range, motion prediction is necessary to determine if the motions are
within range for operation. Through analytical reasoning or scale model testing, it can
be confirmed. At initial stages, simplified methods for determining motions are
desirable.

F. Structural Design and Analysis:

The initial configuration must provide with buoyancy for the payload and the hull
weight. In most cases, the hull steel weight may be estimated to be within 10% by the
analysis of hydrostatic pressures alone. The determination of dynamic loads is
important for local strengthening and fatigue checks. These refinements are done later
in the design period and add only about 15% or less to the weight.
G. Mooring and Foundation Design:

The floater is held in place by the mooring system. Analysis is done to ensure the
platform survives the environment while keeping its offset and the loads on the mooring
system within an acceptable margin. Also, a spare riser analysis may need to be done
to definitively determine it. The mooring analysis is often done in conjunction with the
global response analysis.

H. Weight Control:

Weight is a major factor playing in the design process and it is important to maintain a
comprehensive and consistent breakdown of the weights of a floater including its
payload. [4]

I. Cost Analysis:
Market conditions, design type and class, construction shipyard, and rig specifications
greatly influence the overall cost of an offshore floating platform. Contract type,
shipyard productivity, and scale economies also influence cost, but are either
unobservable or more difficult to ascertain the nature of their impact. Some of the
primary factors are given as:

1. Market Conditions:
A small number of shipyards around the world are capable of building rigs and
during periods of high demand, the supply of rig construction services saturates the
market, leading to backlogs and price increases.
2. Material Cost:
Steel is the main component of rigs, and new build costs are impacted by material
prices. Both rig prices and the steel index grew over the course of the decade at
approximately the same rate, and are correlated.
3. Equipment Cost:
Engines, cranes, generators, drilling equipment, and dynamic positioning systems
are significant components of rig cost. These are all third-party materials purchased
by the rig builder and assembled onsite or at another location. Drilling and
equipment costs are influenced by steel prices to the extent that the majority of the
equipment is made from steel, but more importantly, are influenced by demand
from the oil and gas and commercial shipping industries.
4. Exchange rates:
For the rig builder, as the value of the US dollar rises, the value of a contract
increases. From the perspective of a rig buyer, a strong US dollar lowers newbuild
costs at international shipyards.
5. Labor:
Labor costs and productivity are important drivers of shipyard costs. The costs of
shipbuilding labor in the US and Korea are roughly similar, and about three times
 the labor costs of Singaporean yards. Over the past decade, both labor costs and
productivity have increased.
6. Backlogs:
The amount of time between when the rig is ordered and delivered is important in
determining costs and risks to both parties. The time to construct a rig depends on
a number of factors but is typically 18 to 36 months. During construction, the buyer
is required to make payments on the rig but does not receive income which can
create cash flow problems for buyers. Additionally, as the time between ordering
and delivery increases, market conditions may change, creating risk for the buyer
and seller. [7]

Fig3: Cost structure.[7]

The Overall Design Spiral:

Fig4: The design spiral proposed by the American Petroleum Institute.[8]

Case Study: Floating Production Storage and Offloading System
A. Background:
The most prolific floating platforms are the FPSOs. Developed in the 1970s to produce
from smaller, remote fields where the fixed structures or pipeline systems become
uneconomical. FPSOs are mostly ship shaped floaters with provisions for storing and
offloading of oil simultaneously. They are designed to weathervane so that they may
always face the weather, minimize roll and heave motions. Oil production is achieved
through either flexible risers or riser towers with flexible jumpers. Due to motion of the
FPSO, rigid vertical risers or steel catenary risers aren’t used. Many FPSOs are
converted structures and may not have provisions on the deck to accommodate
production units. FPSOs and converted FPSOs provide the shortest and the cheapest
path to initiating production process.

The disadvantages of these platforms are that:

1. Lack of ability to operate dry trees.
2. Technical feasibility of mooring in very deep waters.
3. Turret assembly becomes very complicated and difficult to integrate.
When designing FPSOs, certain requirements are needed to be matched. These are:
1. Cargo oil storage.
2. Structural provisions for accommodation, turret and cranes.
3. Crude Oil Washing system.
4. Inert Gas system.
5. Slop tank system.
6. Ballast water system.
7. Fuel oil system.
8. Safety systems.

a.
 b.

c.
Fig5: FPSO schematic diagram.
B. FPSO hull design:

A FPSO has four principal requirements. These are:

1. Provision of oil storage capacity compatible with the production rate and offloading
arrangements.
2. Provision of topsides space for a safe layout of the process plant, accommodation
and utilities.
3. Provision of displacement and ballast capacity to reduce the effects of motions on
process plant and riser systems.
4. Provision of space for the production turret (bow, stern or internal), and the amount
of hull storage capacity lost as a consequence (new-build or conversion).

The hull length can be adjusted with respect to the expected wave lengths to ensure
that the extreme environmental conditions do not generate wave lengths located in
the range of the peak heave and/or pitching responses, thus reducing the turret
vertical motions and associated dynamic loads. The hull form can also be adjusted
in order to control rolling and pitching behavior thus reducing riser bend-stiffener
design requirements, particularly for transverse conditions. This optimization also
reduces the need for special topsides process equipment design requirements such
as baffles for separators. In the more recent FPSO developments, there have been
cases where the cargo carrying capacity of the FPSO is not sized against the initial
production flow rate, but one further into the production life where a reduced and
more economical storage can be achieved.

C. Deck Structure:
1. Accommodation:
The position of the accommodation facilities can both dictate the position of the turret
and potentially reduce the cargo carrying capacity of the tanker.
2. Turret Design:

When designing turret mooring systems for ship-shaped vessels, one of the most
important vessel design factors affecting the mooring line tensions is the location
of the turret. However, the farther away the turret is placed, the more the vertical
motions at the fairleads due to the vessel pitch will increase, which could have an
adverse effect on the mooring line tensions in the line dynamic mooring analysis.
If the turret position is moved from a bow position to a position one-third the vessel
length back from the bow, the intact minimum mooring line tension safety factor
can improve by 15 to 18%. A hydraulic power unit provides power via the swivel
to activate the different valves in the manifold. Swivels are also provided for well
control fluid and signals. Electric power is provided via a distribution system
serving an exterior floodlighting and an interior accessway lighting of the complete
turret.

Fig6: Turret schematic.

 3. Mooring Interface:
The mooring forces applied to the vessel are introduced and accommodated by the
turret components contained within the vessel’s hull. These components are:
1. The chain-table, including chain stoppers.
2. The turret cylinders.
3. The friction pad assemblies and support structure.
4. The main weather vanning bearing and its support structure.
5. The turret moonpool structure.

D. Marine Systems:

1. Inert Gas and Tank Venting System:

To avoid the presence of an explosive mixture in the cargo tanks above the oil an
inert gas is installed to provide a slight overpressure gas blanket at the top of the
cargo tanks and slop tanks.

2. Tank Washing System:

A Crude Oil Washing (COW) system serves the cargo and slop tanks. The COW is
connected to the offloading line and branched off to all cargo and slop tanks. A
booster pump installed in the system raises the pressure during offloading, should
the loading pump pressure in the COW main be insufficient for crude oil washing.

3. Ballast Water System:

A ballast water ring main system is used to fill and discharge the segregated wing
ballast tanks. All ring main ballast piping runs over the deck so as to avoid any
possible contamination with crude oil.

4. Fire water system.

5. Fuel Oil system.
6. Offloading.

There are many other components that are associated with the production of oil.
These aid in many different ways. It is not within the scope of this technical report.

By maintaining these design protocols, a proper and functional offshore platform

for oil and gas extraction can be done. [4]
 Conclusion: Offshore floating platforms play a huge role in the industry due to its several
benefits. The design process can become complex very quickly due to its complexity.
Nonetheless, according to applications, a platform can be chosen and it can be made
economically and technically viable. Among various platforms, FPSOs provide great
opportunities for early production. That is why a case study was presented on the design
process of the FPSOs. Although there are many other aspects to cover, this paper tries to portray
the overall process in a simple and understandable way.

[1] “Oil Platform.” [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_platform.

[Accessed: 20-Dec-2020].
[2] J. G. Speight, Offshore Platforms. 2015.
[3] offshore-mag.com, “Creole Platform.” [Online]. Available:
https://www.google.com/search?q=creole+platform&sxsrf=ALeKk03Luq2ksH0T9Qq
gLK2mV5fSpN-
wuA:1608317894731&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiGmrSGm9jt
AhUJSX0KHa3XCMMQ_AUoAXoECAUQAw&biw=1536&bih=760#imgrc=RXXe
Yyibynd4-M. [Accessed: 19-Dec-2020].
[4] J. Halkyard, Chapter 7 Floating Offshore Platform Design. Elsevier Ltd, 2005.
[5] Drilling formulas, “Floating Offshore Structures – Offshore Structure Series,” 2017.
[Online]. Available: http://www.drillingformulas.com/floating-offshore-structures-
offshore-structure-series/. [Accessed: 19-Dec-2020].
[6] “Google Images.” [Online]. Available: https://images.google.com/. [Accessed: 19-
Dec-2020].
[7] M. Kaiser and B. Snyder, “Reviewing rig construction cost factors,” 2012. [Online].
Available: https://www.offshore-mag.com/business-briefs/equipment-
engineering/article/16760123/reviewing-rig-construction-cost-factors. [Accessed: 19-
Dec-2020].
[8] A. P. Institure, “No Titl.” [Online]. Available: https://www.api.org/.

View publication stats