Giant tension leg platform ready for duty in the Gulf of Mexico

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Welding Journal (Miami); (United States)

OSTI ID:5909490

Irving, B

Auger, a tension leg platform, will soon be producing oil and gas from water depths of 2860 ft (858 m) in the Gulf of Mexico. Owned by Shell Offshore Inc., a subsidiary of Shell Oil Co., New Orleans, the Auger tension leg platform (TLP) is the first of its size ever to be floated into position in the Gulf. The platform is expected to be in production early next year. The total cost of the project, including drilling of the wells, TLP fabrication and installation, development drilling, production facilities, and pipelines, is $1.2 billion. The Auger is enormous by comparison. From sea floor to the top of the flare tower, the platform measures 3280 ft (984 m). In terms of weight, the hull, deck, and marine equipment total 32,700 tons, and the topsides weight 12,700 tons. The 12 tendons for the tension leg portion of the platform weigh 6200 tons. Auger is the third tension leg platform of such magnitude in the world. The first one, called Hutton, was commissioned a number of years ago by Conoco in the North Sea. Auger and Hutton are similar in size and weight, but the structural design is significantly different. Hutton is an integrated structure, while Auger is more of a modular-type structure. Most of the weld fabrication, for the deck and the topsides, was done along the Gulf coast. More than 2500 individuals have been employed in coastal Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi since the contracts to build Auger were announced several years ago.

• OSTI ID: 5909490
• Journal Information: Welding Journal (Miami); (United States), Journal Name: Welding Journal (Miami); (United States) Vol. 72:10; ISSN 0043-2296; ISSN WEJUA3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALLOYS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
COST
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