Floating ice platforms: offshore oil exploration

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · J. Struct. Div., Am. Soc. Civ. Eng.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6645682

Masterson, D M; Kivisild, H R

Exploratory drilling offshore in the Canadian Arctic Islands in water depths of 200-1300 ft from floating platforms of thickened ice has proven very successful, reports Fenco Consultants Ltd. Designs based on elastic-plate theory have produced strong platforms that behaved much as predicted. In designing the platforms, Fenco used reduced-modulus concepts to estimate creep effects and long-term deflections, making possible the extrapolation of load-test results to other loads and load durations. Finite-element analysis verified the conclusions drawn from analytical solutions and allowed the investigation of the effects of holes in the platform, different edge conditions, and section taper. Since the first platform was installed in the winter of 1973-74, construction and field-monitoring procedures have developed considerably. Flooding is now largely automated and the provision of logistic support facilities such as an airstrip has become the major effort in the construction program. Monitoring now includes the measurement of vertical deflection using three different techniques and the measurement of strains at five different levels within the platform. Rig weights have increased from 500 tons to a weight of 1500 tons and load durations from 50 days to over 90 days; even longer durations are planned in the future.

• OSTI ID: 6645682
• Journal Information: J. Struct. Div., Am. Soc. Civ. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Struct. Div., Am. Soc. Civ. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 106; ISSN JSDEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN
DRILLING
DYNAMIC LOADS
EXPLORATION
EXPLORATORY WELLS
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
ICE
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
OFFSHORE DRILLING
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
OIL WELLS
RESOURCES
WELLS