Interactive hydrodynamic/structural analysis for refloating the Maureen Alpha platform

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · JPT, Journal of Petroleum Technology

OSTI ID:465170

The Maureen platform, operated by Phillips Petroleum Co. U.K. Ltd., has been producing in the North Sea since 1983. It is a steel gravity-base structure with three large oil-storage tanks as legs. With the field approaching abandonment, plans are under way to refloat the platform for reuse on another field. The platform was installed in a sequence of marine operations: floatout from the construction dry dock at Hunterson and mating with its topside offshore at Kishorn, both in Scotland; towing to the Maureen site; and positioning on the seabed over a preinstalled template. These operations were made possible by the unique design of the platform substructure that incorporates a number of ballastable compartments and piping systems used to control the attitude of the platform at all phases of its installation. This design suggests that refloating the platform can be considered as the reverse of the installation operations. A previous study confirmed that the platform can be refloated without removing any topside equipment and identified some critical issues that require additional attention (e.g., pressurization with water under the bases to extract the tanks from their soil foundations, and naval stability when the platform is raised to the surface). In addition the structural integrity needs to be verified at each stage of the refloating operation and all potential risks must be identified and assessed. Other objectives of the study are to help understand the behavior of the platform during refloating, identify the most suitable set of operating conditions, and minimize any risks.

• OSTI ID: 465170
• Journal Information: JPT, Journal of Petroleum Technology, Journal Name: JPT, Journal of Petroleum Technology Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 49; ISSN 0149-2136; ISSN JPTJAM
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
42 ENGINEERING
DESIGN
MATERIALS HANDLING
MATERIALS RECOVERY
NORTH SEA
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
PLANNING
RECYCLING
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SIMULATORS
TRANSPORT
UNITED KINGDOM