Overview
In the next two years, the
Gulf of Mexico will see three different types of production
facilities moored in water depths exceeding 2400m. As the industry
seeks to move into even greater depths in other parts of the world,
it is important to understand their capabilities and limitations.
As part of its Core
Technology Programme, BG Group commissioned a group Cranfield
University students to review the current status and future plans
for development and deployment of deepwater production facilities.
The work has just been completed as a group project that forms part
of their MSc in Offshore and Ocean Technology–option in Subsea
Engineering. At this evening meeting, members of the team presented
their findings.
Presentations
Review Team, Cranfield
University
Olumide Agbabiaka, Farouk Azzaz,
Julien Caillaud, Peter Moroney, Josef Navarro, Chidi Ochelli and Emeka
Ofoegbu
Deepwater production systems have been reviewed and grouped as follows:
-
Rigid structures –
compliant towers, TLPs, TWLPs
-
Floating structures –
buoys spars, FPSOs and semi-submersibles
-
Mooring and anchoring
systems
-
Emerging technologies
The design characteristics,
advantages and disadvantages have been reviewed and developments
histories have been produced. Details of the projects in which each
technology is in use and any known future plans have been
identified. Technology gaps have then been identified and used to
predict where the future of subsea processing technologies may lie.
Dr Bob Allwood, Course
Director and Head of Offshore Technology, Cranfield University
Group and individual
projects and reviews offer benefits to both industry and academia.
The elements required for successful collaboration was discussed,
along with current focus areas.
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