Heat-treated cast steel applied in deep-water oil drilling

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Ind. Heat. (Pittsburgh); (United States)

OSTI ID:6207881

Giant cast steel sheaves, vital to the pile-driving system used in nailing the base of an oil-drilling platform to the floor of the Gulf of Mexico, have been playing a crucial role in tapping petroleum resources in deeper water (over 1000 ft) than any other oil field developed so far. If work goes as scheduled, by the end of 1978 Shell Oil Company's production drilling platform should be rising above the surface of the Cognac oil fields. To provide a firm foundation for the platform, the sheaves must bear the tremendous load of massive piles plus associated equipment under salt water attack without failure. The production platform will rise 1,265 ft off the bottom (the Empire State Building is 1,250 ft high); the platform deck will rest on a three-section frame. The success of the entire operation hinges on the lowest section of the frame, which must support the entire platform under climatic conditions that can reach hurricane ferocity. To provide such a foundation, the largest offshore pile-driving system ever built was utilized. The lower base framework was fabricated on land and towed out to sea; once at the designated location, huge-derrick barges lowered the frame to rest, right side up, on the floor of the Gulf. About 1,025 ft below the surface, the frame stood on enormous hollow legs having an inner diameter of approximately 7 ft. The only way of creating a reliable foundation is to secure the base to the floor through piles.

• OSTI ID: 6207881
• Journal Information: Ind. Heat. (Pittsburgh); (United States), Journal Name: Ind. Heat. (Pittsburgh); (United States) Vol. 45:12; ISSN INHTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360103 -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
42 ENGINEERING
420206 -- Engineering-- Mining & Drilling Equipment & Facilities-- (1980-1989)
423000* -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
ALLOYS
CASTINGS
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
FASTENING
FOUNDATIONS
INSTALLATION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
JOINING
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
POSITIONING
SEA BED
STEELS
SUPPORTS
TENSILE PROPERTIES