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Deepwater production platforms
S.S. Pagano
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Abstract
At least eight deepwater production platforms are currently being designed or planned by major US oil companies for future installation in the Gulf of Mexico offshore Texas and Louisiana. These platforms mostly will be conventional fixed steel platforms pinned to the seafloor in water depths ranging from 150 to 550 meters. At least one tension-leg production platform (TLP) is planned by Conoco for installation in 550-meter waters off Louisiana. The first platform in this a round of deepwater activity was ordered by Shell Offshore. The platform will be a large structure for installation in Green Canyon Block 63 in 230-meter waters. This project has been dubbed Boxer. The next big deepwater platform order to be let will be another structure for Shell Offshore for installation in 1987 in 410-meter waters in Green Canyon Block 65 in the Gulf of Mexico. Dubbed the Bullwinkle project, this will be the largest platform installed to date in the world. Studies now are being conducted on whether the Bullwinkle jacket will be a single piece or two-piece structure. Two Texas fabrication yards have been shortlisted to build this structure. These and other drilling platforms are described.