Floating exploration and production

Floating exploration and production facilities are sometimes provided on jackup rigs, semi-submersible vessels or ex-crude oil shipping tankers converted to production treatment vessels. These facilities are essentially the same as fixed offshore platform or installations except they are moored in place or provided with a temporary support structure instead of provided with fixed supports to the seabed. The major process fire and explosion risks are identical to the risks produced on offshore platforms. They have one addition major facility risk, that is the maintenance of buoyancy of the installation. Should fire or explosion effects cause a loss of buoyancy (or even stability) the entire facility is at risk of submergence. Adequate compartimization and integrity assurances must be implemented in these instances. 

Organic geochemistry has played a pivotal role in the continued development of oil and gas exploration and production. It has consistently made useful contributions, from the earliest days when the presence of blocks of asphalt floating... 

For this subpart, facilities include all types of offshore structures permanently or temporarily attached to the seabed (i.e., mobile offshore drilling units floating production systems floating production, storage and offloading facilities tension-leg platforms and spars) used for exploration, development, production, and transportation activities for oil, gas, or sulphur from areas leased in the OCS [Outer Continental Shelf], Facilities also include DOI regulated pipelines. 

Figure 23.37 Floating production and subsea systems for oil exploration. Source Reprinted from US DOI.

In recent years, carbon fiber material is widely used in offshore and deep sea oilfields. It can be used as drilling and exploration equipments, floating production system of tension leg platform. 

Buoyancy-Related Subsea Applications. Offshore exploration of oil and gas requires insulated pipelines in order to prevent formation of waxes and hydrates (21). If the temperature of the pipeline drops too low, the heavy fractions in the crude oil can turn waxy. Natural gas can form hydrates. Both of these products can result in the clogging of the pipeline. S5uitactic foams are suitable insulating materials for such buoyancy-related applications in deep water because of their higher compressive strength compared to that of conventional foam. Examples of such applications include buoys and floats, and submarine void flller for encapsulating instruments. 

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