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Download: Hydrocarbon Processing - February 2009

Download: Chemical Engineering - February 2009

Oil Rig / Offshore Structure

Type of design offshore platform subjects to water depth, geology condition and cost effective solution. The various types of offshore platform shown as below:

1. Fixed Steel Structure
2. Compliant Tower
3. Jack-up Platform
4. Concrete Gravity Base Structure
5. Tension Leg Platform (TLP)
6. Semi-submersible Vessel
7. Floating Production System
8. Spar Platform

1. FIXED STEEL STRUCTURE


The traditional offshore structure consists of weld steel, tubular framework or jacket to support the topside facilities. Piles driven into the seafloor secure the jacket.
Modern design with bridge linked jackets tending to favour a separate well head platform, processing platform and accommodation platform due to safety concern.
The Fixed Steel Structures are restricted to shallow water developments with water deep about 1500 ft.

2. COMPLIANT TOWER




Compliant towers are similar to fixed platforms in that they have a steel tubular jacket that is used to support the topside facilities. Unlike fixed platforms, compliant towers yield to the water and wind movements in a manner similar to floating structures. Like fixed platforms, they are secured to the seafloor with piles. The jacket of a compliant tower has smaller dimensions than those of a fixed platform. Compliant towers are designed to sustain significant lateral deflections and forces, and are typically used in water depths ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 ft.




3. JACK-UP PLATFORM






The Jack-up Platform consists of a triangular shaped (sometimes rectangular), box section barge fitted with three (sometimes four) moveable legs which enable the vessel to stand to the seabed in water depths of up to approximately 120 m (400 ft).


4. CONCRETE GRAVITY BASE STRUCTURE

The Concrete Gravity Base Structure have been constructed using a base manufactured from reinforced concrete. The design of base includes void spaces or caissons to provided the structure with a natural buoyancy which will enable it to be floated to field development location. Once on location the void spaces are flooded on the seabed whilst the topside modules are lifted into place. The void spaces then used as storage compartments for crude oil, or filled with permanent iron ore ballast. The colossal weight of concrete structures obviates the need to install foundation piles, hence the name gravity base structure.



5. TENSION LEG PLATFORM (TLP)





A Tension Leg Platform (TLP) is a buoyant platform held in place by a mooring system. The TLP’s are similar to conventional fixed platforms except that the platform is maintained on location through the use of moorings held in tension by the buoyancy of the hull. The mooring system is a set of tension legs or tendons attached to the platform and connected to a template or foundation on the seafloor. The template is held in place by piles driven into the seafloor. This method dampens the vertical motions of the platform, but allows for horizontal movements. TLPs are used in water depths from 1500 ft to 7000 ft.




The "conventional" TLP is a 4-column design which looks similar to a semisubmersible. Proprietary versions include the Seastar and MOSES mini TLPs; they are relatively low cost, used in water depths between 600 and 4,300 feet (200 and 1,300 m). Mini TLPs can also be used as utility, satellite or early production platforms for larger deepwater discoveries.



6. SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE VESSEL



These platforms have twin hulls (columns and pontoons) of sufficient buoyancy to cause the structure to float, but of weight sufficient to keep the structure upright. Semi-submersible platforms can be moved from place to place; can be ballasted up or down by altering the amount of flooding in buoyancy tanks; they are generally anchored by combinations of chain, wire rope and/or polyester rope during drilling and/or production operations, though they can also be kept in place by the use of dynamic positioning. Semi-submersibles can be used in water depths from 200 to 10,000 feet.


7. FLOATING PRODUCTION SYSTEM

FPSO (floating production, storage, and off-loading) vessel is converted from liquid cargo vessel or new built. FPSO equipped with processing facilities and moored to a location.

Basically, Floating Production Systems are ideal solution for

• The field is small and marginal
• The field is isolated and an established pipeline infrastructure does not exist
• The field is located in very deep water where it would not be possible to install a conventional fixed platform

A major advantage of FPSO lies in the fact that they can simply lift anchors and depart to pastures new when oil production reaches a commercially unprofitable level.

You may interest:
FPSO - Armada Perkasa (youtube)
The Making of FPSO TGT1 (youtube)
The Making of Armada Sterling FPSO (youtube)
New Round FPSO
FPSO Contractor Fleet Size
BP Scheihallion FPSO Offstation (youtube)


8. SPAR PLATFORM


SPAR is a deep-draft floating caisson, which is a hollow cylindrical structure similar to a very large buoy. Its four major systems are hull, moorings, topsides, and risers. The spar relies on a traditional mooring system (that is, anchor-spread mooring) to maintain its position. About 90 percent of the structure is underwater. Historically, spars were used as marker buoys, for gathering oceanographic data, and for oil storage. The spar design is now being used for drilling, production, or both. The distinguishing feature of a spar is its deep-draft hull, which produces very favorable motion characteristics compared to other floating concepts. Low motions and a protected centerwell also provide an excellent configuration for deepwater operations. Water depth capability has been stated by industry as ranging up to 10,000 ft.
The upper section is compartmentalized around a flooded centerwell containing the different type of risers. This section provides the buoyancy for the spar. The middle section is also flooded but can be economically configured for oil storage. The bottom section (keel) is compartmentalized to provide buoyancy during transport and to contain any field-installed, fixed ballast. Approximate hull diameter for a typical GOM spar is 130 feet, with an overall height, once deployed, of approximately 700 feet (with 90% of the hull in the water column).
The first Spars were based on the Classic design. This evolved into the Truss Spar by replacing the lower section of the caisson hull with a truss. The Truss Spar is divided into three distinct sections. The cylindrical upper section, called the “hard tank,” provides most of the in-place buoyancy for the Spar. The middle truss section supports the heave plates and provides separation between the keel tank and hard tank. The keel tank, also known as the “soft tank,” contains the fixed ballast and acts as a natural hang-off location for export pipelines and flowlines since the environmental influences from waves and currents and associated responses are less pronounced there than nearer the water line.

Oil and Gas Processing (Gas Section)

Figure 1: Typical PFD of Oil and Gas Processing

The typical process flow diagram (PFD) of oil and gas processing for most of fixed or floating offshore production. Two sections consists crude oil stabilisation and associated gas compression.

This section is continue to discuss the gas processing part in offshore production platform. The HP-MP-LP Separators separate gas from oil. The gas from LP and MP Separators will be recompressed by small compressor driven by electric motor. The re-compressed gas co-mingle with the gas from HP Separator. The gas send to HP Compression train for sale gas, gas lift or gas injection.

The HP Compression train included gas scrubber, gas cooler, anti-surge recycle and driver (gas turbine, steam turbine or electric motor). The gas compressed to higher pressure via several stages of compressors. Each compressor is driven by same shaft. Number of stage compressor is depended on final discharge pressure and compression ratio of compressor. The common compression ratio is maximum 4.

The imperial practice is equal compression ratio of each stage HP Compressor due to high efficiency and cost effective.

The gas treatment system allocate at interstage HP compression train. They are Gas Dehydration, Mercury Removal, Gas Sweetening, Hydrocarbon Dew-point Control Unit, or Natural Gas Liquid Recovery Unit. The gas treatment system depend on gas export requirements.

The treated gas is exported via gas flowline or LNG/CNG tanker to onshore processing plant.

Figure 2: Floating Oil and Gas Production

You may interest:

Oil and Gas Processing (Oil Section)

Oil and Gas Processing (Oil Section)

Figure 1: Typical PFD of Oil and Gas Processing

The typical process flow diagram (PFD) of oil and gas processing for most of fixed or floating offshore production. Two sections consists crude oil stabilisation and associated gas compression.

Crude oil stabilisation section is processing the crude oil with export oil specification. The common export oil specification are true vapour pressure (TVP 100 kPa @ 50ºC) or reid vapour pressure (RVP 7psia @60ºF) and water content; basic sediment and water (BS&W) maximum at 0.5 vol%.

Typical arrangement of crude oil separation and stabilisation are; 3 Staage Separator (HP-MP-LP Separators) and Electrostatic Coalescer. An Inlet Heater is required at upstream of HP Separator. The outlet temperature is above emulsion breaking temperature to increase oil and water separation. The HP Separator separates oil, water and gas with 3-5 minutes residence time. The recommanded operating pressure for separators are: 10 bara (HP), 4.5 bara (MP) and 1.5 bara (LP)

Figure 2: Horinzontal 3-Phase Seaprator

The HP Separator, 3 phases (oil, water and gas) separation, horinzontal vessel with wier. Separation of oil from water relies on specific gravity. The gas goes to compression train, the water goes to Produced Water System, and the oil goes to Interstage Heater.

Interstage Heater further is heating oil to above wax dissolve temperature 75ºC. The oil send to MP Separator for further oil, water and gas separation. The oil send to LP Separator.

LP Seaparator stabilises oil as per requirement of TVP. The LP Separator may operates as 2 phase or 3 phase separation due to low water content in oil.

The oil from the LP separator is pumped via a low shear pump to the coalescer. The coalescer removes remaining water content in oil.

The BS&W and salt content of the oil is managed by the removal of produced water at each stage of the process and by the coalescer. The stabilised and dried crude then flows to the production tanks, via a crude cooler.

You may interest:
Oil and Gas Processing (Gas Section)

History of Oil and Gas Industry

Standard Oil is big boy of oil and gas industry in 18th century who dominance of oil production, refinement and distribution.
In 1911, Standard Oil was Broken up into seven companies:

1. Standard Oil of New Jersey (Esso), which merged with Mobil to form ExxonMobil.
2. Royal Dutch Shell (Dutch 60% / British 40%)
3. Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) (British). This later became Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC), then British Petroleum, and then BP Amoco following a merger with Amoco (which in turn was formerly Standard Oil of Indiana). It is now known solely by the initials BP.
4. Standard Oil Co. of New York ("Socony"). This later became Mobil, which merged with Exxon to form ExxonMobil.
5. Standard Oil of California ("Socal"). This became Chevron, then, upon merging with Texaco, ChevronTexaco. It has since dropped the 'Texaco' suffix, returning to Chevron.
6. Gulf Oil. In 1984, most of Gulf became part of Chevron, with smaller parts becoming part of BP and Cumberland Farms, in what was, at that time, the largest merger in world history. A network of stations in the northeastern United States still bears this name.
7. Texaco. Merged with Chevron in 2001. The merged company was known for a time as ChevronTexaco, but in 2005, changed its name back to Chevron. Texaco remains a Chevron brand name.

This seven companies became know as Seven Sisters.
As of 2005, the surviving companies are ExxonMobil, Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, and BP.
There is now global market in oil and gas involving more companies, Marathon, ConocoPhillips, Hess, Agip, Talisman, and Total.

=== Update ===
Infographic

Source: http://www.visualcapitalist.com/chart-evolution-standard-oil/

=== Update ===
History of Standard Oil

1900, Standard Oil controlled 90% of oil industry in United States. He controlled the oil production, sales, oil price. A big giant company monopoly the market. How it fell. A woman journalist, named Ida Tarbell, she brake the giant by her pen.

Ida Tarbell, her father was an small oil producer whose business had failed due to Rockefeller's business dealings. She muckraked and published in McClure's Magazine. (Full story)

World Crude Oil Production

Total world crude oil production more than 80 million a day.

The crude oil trade at $41.77per barrel at 6 Feb 2009. The peak price at around $140 per barrel in July 2008. The US financial crisis cause the price down sharply.

Who are the crude oil producers and consumers:

Attachment:

1. http://www.4shared.com/file/88106647/a14277cb/TotalOilSupplyBarrelsperDay.html

2. http://www.4shared.com/file/88106605/2b20d3e3/WTOTWORLDw.html