Recent advances in design and construction of deepwater platforms. Part 1

A brief history of the technology of platform design and the techniques of fabrication and installation was presented. The steps for designing a platform for shallow and deep water are included. Wave dynamics and joint fatigue were discussed. Special techniques are used in deep water. As the water depth increases, jacket size and weight increase places demands on the launch barges available. Jacket configuration, size and weight have a definite influence on the selected means of transporting and installing the jacket. One solution is to design the jacket in such a manner that it may be transported, at least partially, in two or more sections and joined together prior to, or during, installation. The jacket for the Hondo platform, installed by McDermott in 260 m of water in the Santa Barbara Channel in 1976 was mentioned. (DP)