Unique concrete column offloads marine crude
This paper describes the world's first buoyant articulated loading column (ALC) made principally of concrete and which can operate in the weather conditions of the North Sea. The ALC is an unmanned structure, mooring and loading being controlled by a tanker. Gravity base buoyancy tanks ''floaters'' are lightly reinforced and have a similar section to the column, 29.5 ft diameter and a wall thickness of 13.8 in. Before towing to the field, the column was ballasted by 1,000 metric tons of hematite, a fine ore aggregate. Final ballast will comprise 1,000 metric tons of hematite and 460 metric tons of water. Setting will be carried out by pumping water into the column until the base structure contacts the seabed. Once the base has touched down, the 2 cyclindrical buoyancy tanks will be vented, thus instantly applying the full weight of the gravity base to the sea floor and anchoring the ALC. Hyperbaric welding techniques will be used to tie the subsea pipeline into the expansion loop.
- OSTI ID:
- 6111470
- Journal Information:
- Pet. Eng. Int.; (United States), Journal Name: Pet. Eng. Int.; (United States) Vol. 54:12; ISSN PEEID
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
022000* -- Petroleum-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
42 ENGINEERING
423000 -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BUILDING MATERIALS
BUOYS
CONCRETES
DESIGN
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
LOADING
MAINTENANCE
MATERIALS
MATERIALS HANDLING
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MINERAL RESOURCES
MOORINGS
NORTH SEA
OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
OIL FIELDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PIPELINES
RESOURCES
SEAS
SHIPS
STORAGE FACILITIES
SURFACE WATERS
TANKER SHIPS
TRANSPORT