Department of Petroleum Engineering and Geoengineering

Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Jais

A report submitted on topic

“Gravity Platforms”
Sub – Offshore Oil and Gas Technology
Submitted by –

Chandan Sharma – Epe19019

Divyansh Kumar – Epe19021
Gaurav Bhatia – Epe19022

Supervised By –
Dr Shailesh Kumar
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
A report preparation on a particular topic is a golden opportunity for learning and self – development.
Throughout this report preparation we enjoyed ample amount of time in learning about various aspects of
our topic. We would like to express our gratitude towards the institute for providing the study materials in
institute library to complete the topic and gain extra knowledge.

We would like to thank Dr Shailesh Kumar, Project supervisor, who in spite of being busy with his duties
took time out to guide us on correct path. We are blessed with the efforts and hard work put forward by
our mentor to guide us in best suited direction which helped us to go through new concepts to inculcate in
innovative minds. We are thankful to sir and express our sincere gratitude for his indigenous guidance and
constant encouragement throughout the tenure of our project work. This project has provided us with new
insights and learnings in the field of Offshore Oil and Gas Technology.

With regards

Chandan Sharma (EPE 19019)

Divyansh Kumar (EPE 19021)

Gaurav Bhatia (EPE 19022)

INDEX ---

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 TOPICS Pg.no

i. Introduction to gravity platforms 5

ii. Types and components of gravity platforms 6

iii. Parameters and Design Consideration 10

iv. Installation of gravity platforms 13

v. Advantages of concrete platforms 17

vi. Limitation of Gravity platform 18

vii. Storage of oil in gravity platforms 18

viii. List of gravity platforms 19

ix. Conclusion 20

x. References 21

LIST OF FIGURES:

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 Name of figures Pg.no

i. Fig.1 - Condeep Platform 6

ii. Fig.2 – Base structure of Condeep Platform 7

iii. Fig.3 – Transition piece of deck structure 8

iv. Fig.4- Andoc and Sea Tank Platforms 9

v. Fig 5 – CG Doris platform 10

vi. Fig – 6 Skirt pressure vs wave Height 14

vii. Fig- 7 – Schematics of position of skirts in different platforms 15

1. INTRODUCTION TO GRAVITY PLATFORMS AND IT’S HISTORY –

As the competition in the offshore production market rises, the demand for offshore structures also
increases. The Gravity platforms were first introduced in the year 1969. Gravity based platforms are used
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not only for crude and gas but also for sulphur industry. The first Gravity Based platform was Ekofisk oil
storage tank. Ekofisk is an oil field in block 2/4 of the Norwegian sector of the North Sea about 320 km
southwest of Stavanger. Discovered in 1969 by Phillips Petroleum Company, it remains one of the most
important oil fields in the North Sea These types of structures were pioneered by Norway, consistent with
their design expertise, construction facilities, and construction skills that leaned heavily toward concrete
rather than steel. Norway’s fjords provided the ideal sites to permit construction of these large substructures.
The Gravity platforms are massive and heavier structures with very high amount of storage capacity. These
structures rest on seabed and they must have sufficient weight to remain in fixed position when subjected to
natural forces like wind, current or waves. There are many criteria, we must keep on tabs before installation
of gravity-based platform. Before installation, it is must to know about the soil present beneath the sea bed
because the weight of these massive structures may lead to collapse of sea bed in case of any cavity or
caving present below.

The early development of gravity platforms in the 1970s was driven by the generic requirement to store
large volumes of oil and support a heavy topside in deep water. A large number of platforms were
constructed of this type, characterized by the Olav Olsen's concept. All of these structures were partially
built in a drydock and then completed afloat in sheltered waters. At that time, there was no pipeline
infrastructure, and the capacity of heavy lift vessels was only a few thousand tons. It was determined that
the oil storage requirement could be used to design a structure with sufficient buoyancy and stability to
transport a heavy topside from an inshore location to site. Therefore, topsides could be assembled inshore,
mated with the substructure at a sheltered deep-water location and extensively hooked up inshore, before the
whole facility was transported to the field and installed. Gravity Based structures are constructed with
reinforced concrete and consist of a cellular base surrounding several unbraced columns that extend upward
from the base to support the topsides superstructure above the water surface.

Almost all of the offshore platforms are used for drilling facilities, production facilities, pumping equipment
and storage facilities. Hence to store all these on a single platform in offshore conditions, Mass is always a
desirable condition. Hence, the only platform providing all this facility for about 300 m depth is Gravity
Based Platforms. Most of the Gravity base platforms are made from concrete

2. Types & Components of Gravity Platforms:

2.1 Condeep Platform:

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 ● This type of platform sits on the ocean floor by its own weight,plus any contained ballast.
● It is majorly constructed from steel-reinforced concrete.
● It has a deep structure.
● It can be used in shallow depth areas with rough conditions (piling not possible).

Fig.1 - Condeep Platform

Components:
● Caisson:
1. It has a hexagonal shaped structure with 19 vertical interconnected cells (OD = 20m,
height = more than 50 m).
2. Caisson provides buoyancy during construction and towing and later serves as oil
storage volume.
3. We use slip forming method for the formation of each cell where concrete is poured
into a continuously moving form.

● Base Structure/Skirt:
1. It is a foundation at the bottom of the structure which resists slipping of the cell.
2. It is strong enough to penetrate into the sea bed.

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 3. We also have dowels which are extended part of base to position base skirt and cassion.

Fig.2 – Base structure of Condeep Platform

● Towers/columns/shafts/legs:
(1) There are three hollow-concrete steel shafts (conical) or towers which support the deck
structure and the base or skirt.
(2) They serve as enclosures for well conductors by protecting them from wind and waves.
(3) Multiple wells can be drilled through each leg which are formed by slip forming method.
● Deck Structure:
Three-dimensional steel pieces make up all of the deck constructions. Plate girders, box girders, and
trusses are the three basic load-bearing elements. Tubular or plate sections are used to construct truss
girders.

Depending on sea depths and wave strengths, tower concrete platforms have 2 to 4 legs, while steel
template platforms have 4 to 12 legs.

The steel transition pieces have a diameter of around 39 feet (12 metres) and a height of 20–26 feet
(6–8 metres). The loads are transferred from the rectangular deck substructure to the circular
concrete towers via these transition pieces.

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 Fig.3 – Transition piece of deck structure

2.2 Andoc & Seatank Platform:

(i) Andoc is named after its construction company, Anglo-Dutch Offshore Concrete, which is a
joint venture between Dutch and British companies. Dunlin A is an example of a andoc
platform (UK) whereas Brent C (UK), Frigg TPI (UK), and Comorant A are examples of sea
tanks designed by Sea Tank Company Paris (UK). These platforms are quite similar to the
condeep platform in that they have the same tower design and four components as that
platform.
(ii) Both of these platforms include four towers and oil storage caissons made up of square cells.
The caisson cell walls are made up of circular cylindrical shell panels, while the caisson cell
ceilings are made up of a mix of conical shells and flat slabs of varying thicknesses.
(iii) The mounting of the deck structure is one of the primary differences between the andoc and
sea tank platforms. The steel deck structure is linked to the tops of the concrete towers by a
specially engineered steel transition joint, similar to the condeep platform, however the
towers on the andoc platform convert from concrete shells to steel shells immediately below
the lower astronomical tide water level.

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 Fig.4- Andoc and Sea Tank Platforms

2.4 CG Doris Platform:

i A perforated breakwater wall surrounds the construction, which is shaped like a marine
sea island.
ii This platform differs from the preceding three in that it is classified as a manifold type
platform, whilst the other three are classified as concrete tower types.
iii Anti-scour walls are built into the two outer circumferential walls, which are perforated.
iv The platform's main body is shaped like a cylinder and is made up of six vertical
cylindrical shell panels with radii that are fewer than the total body's radius, forming a
lobed shape.

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 Fig 5 – CG Doris platform

3. Parameters and Design considerations –

Due to massiveness in size and mass of platform, we need to keep some important things in mind before the
installation of these structures. Some of the basic factors to be considered are as follows –

 These massive structures may slide due to stratigraphical location on the sea bed, or the soil present
below may collapse due to weight. So, to counter these factors a reasonable safety factor is used to
provide more rigidness in the structure foundation.
 The rotation that may occur in the structure when facing the sliding conditions should not reach the
level up to which bend may occur in the legs.
 The endurance of the structure should also be taken into the consideration.
 The structure could also get affected by the oscillating forces.
 The deign should be made with the enough rigidity to counter the effect caused by the motion of
seafloor and the unsteadiness caused by the waves.
 Also, there should be ease in access and repairing of the structure as, the structure faces several
factors of erosion.
 Temperature stresses within the caisson caused by storage of hot oil.
 Potential instability of the structural system during tow out operation due to top sided structural
weight.

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3.1 Pre-Constructional Operations -
We also need to do so

me pre – constructional analysis and operation to overcome the initial obstruction in setting up of platform.
This consist of already known two basic factors –

 Geotechnical Analysis of soil – The soil present underneath of the structure must undergo a
detailed study to reach to conclusion, If the soil is fitting to the standards to accommodate the
structure. The variability of soil properties at a site is assessed from classification tests on soils
samples, from in situ testing, and from geological information interpreted from geophysical data.
 Oedometer testing of soil - When a platform is placed on the seafloor the underlying clay soils
undergo elastic deformation, followed by consolidation settlement, until the excess pore pressures
are dissipated, when secondary creep may occur. The undrained Young's modulus o f the soil is
interpreted from tri axial tests to determine the immediate settlement. Consolidation settlement is
the major component of the total settlement o f a platform and is computed from the results of
oedometer tests in which the pre consolidation pressure o f a specimen must be determined
accurately
 Seabed levelling work – To avoid the slipping of these big structures on the sea bed, we need to
level the seabed to horizontal position. This may include sand removal up to 10m of depth
depending on the budget of setting up of platform.

3.2 Materials used in construction –

The quality requirements of the cements and other materials used in the construction of these platform are
constantly under check. These are some listed quantities that are needed to be considered –

 High – Quality materials

 The compressive strength of concrete should be at least 40MPa.
 Maximum water/cement ratio should be between 0.40 to 0.45 in the splash zone.
 Use of lightweight concrete for certain upper portions of the structure example : roofs ,shafts etc.

3.3 Site Selection –

This is one of the most essential factors required for the setting up of platform according to financial
perspective. The Proper site selection implies the minimization of costs incurred in the transportation, along
with the construction assembly.

3.4 Relocation of Supporting structure –

After the primary stage of fabrication, the supporting structure and setting up of the sea bed, the supporting
structure need to be relocated to the target location to be installed. relocation methods are categorized, taking
into consideration the specifications of each participating facilities, such as dry docks, pontoons, and
onshore facilities.

3.5 Bathymetry –
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Water depth is measured by a very high precision echo sounder emitting high frequency acoustic signals in
the range of 40Hz. Echo sounders operating at higher frequencies up-to 200 kHz are used to detect gas seeps
at the sea floor.

3.6 Rotary Drilling and Wireline Sampling –

The vessels generally use 115-130mm drill pipe with drill collars and an open-centre drag bit at the bottom
of the string and the top of the string is connected to the motion compensator in the crown of the derrick so
that the drill string is constantly held in tension. This also requires a continuous resupply of mud of desirable
viscosity and fluid weight for the stability of borehole.

The most commonly used sampling technique is percussion sampling. Percussion sampling, is accomplished
by driving a 75 mm thin-wall tube into the soil below the bottom of the boring by blows o f a 130 kg
hammer dropped approximately 1.5 m_. The sliding hammer is attached to the sampler and is operated on a
wire line. The technique is fast and effective in procuring samples.

3.7 Stability –
In principle, large gravity structures depend on their weight to resist horizontal loads. The ratio of the
horizontal to vertical load is so large that the sliding mode of failure needs separate attention. These things
are mostly observed in the region with soft or loose strata. To achieve this additional stability, concept of
skirts was introduced to transmit the loads through weaker top layers to relatively more rigid layers present
right below at depth. For gravity platforms, the void remaining after completed penetration of skirts are
normally filled as a part of the installation phase. During the operational phase the stability have to be
verified that the platform has an acceptable level of safety under the most critical loading conditions
considering all possible modes of failure.

3.8 Ballasting and Anti Erosion protection –

This is a part of installation process. The ballasting process takes place after the structure has been installed
on the sea bed. Due to rigidity, ballasting is as essential for the support structure. For Ballasting, Olivine was
found to be the best choice and for anti-scouring, rip-rap rocks were used.

3.9 Re-float -
The pros of the reversed installation method revolve around the platform having sufficient float rigidity to
carry the structure to its offshore destination. The minimization of offshore labour is also an essential
advantage of re floating, as the disassembling of the deck can take place onshore. The usual steps followed
to perform re floating operations are:

 Sufficient removal of topside facilities, easing the re-floating process and making it safer.

 Seal holes in all sections to obtain sufficient resilience for the following processes.

 Mechanical tools used to perform the task must undergo strict quality control procedures.

 Pump air in the shaft and caisson chambers.

 Ballasting should not exceed the allowable weight limit, which might reduce the resilience of the platform.

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 Generate a hydraulic lifting force by injecting water under the base slap, pulling the skirt out of the
subsoil.

 At the point, where the hydraulic force is less than the required force to lift the platform, the shafts are to
undergo further de ballast, in order to pull the skirts and dowels out.

3.10 Wind Loads –

The force exerted by wind on an offshore structure is a function of three basic parameters the wind velocity,
the orientation of the structure, and the aerodynamic characteristics of the structure and its members. So,
while making the structure, we have to maintain the shape of structure so that there should be least
resistance to blowing winds. This becomes of at most importance in case of the platform located at a place,
where the probability of storm and strong winds are high.

3.11 Loads from Ice –

In the areas with low temperature and more prone to accumulation of ice and snow, structures should be
made compatible with the surrounding including the impact on platform due to impact forces from the ice
sheet collision from structure. Allowance should be made for the effect of this accumulation upon the
stability of, and upon the stresses in the structure.

3.12 Loads from the earthquakes –

While building these massive structures, consideration of earthquake magnitude is also an important factor.
In areas with high probability of earthquake, structure must be designed to counter the lateral and vertical
forces along with resisting the overturning movements due to seismic activities.

4. Installation of Gravity Platforms:

The steps of construction for a standard concrete gravity-based platform are well-defined. There are numerous crucial
requirements that must be met at each stage:

1. At all phases of construction, the structure must be watertight and have stability and freeboard while afloat.
2. From one stage to the next, the loading circumstances and combinations operating on the structure alter
dramatically. At each level, structural integrity must be ensured.
3. Ballasting and compressed-air systems (if applicable) must be meticulously monitored and controlled at all
times.

4.1 Installation:

1 : Touch down

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 Fig – 6 Skirt pressure vs wave Height

The rate of loading must be taken into account when evaluating the ultimate lateral soil resistance against
dowels or other base projecting parts, especially when the seafloor consists of dense silt and sand that
dilates. Depending on the rate of deformation, the difference in final soil resistance for this material could be
significant. As a result, only accurate platform movement input values at touch down can lead to reasonable
forecasts. Installation of structures without dowels or skirts has revealed that some horizontal skidding has
occurred during the touch down phase.

4.2 : Skirt penetration

The following are the most important considerations during this phase of the installation:
1. Differential skirt water pressures and piping issues.
2. Ballasting capacity required to vertically penetrate the platform skirt system to the specified depth,
including non-uniform skirt penetration resistance.
3. The ability of the skirts and soils to withstand horizontal loading caused by the sea condition.

(i) Differential water pressure across skirts

The cyclic overturning moments caused by environmental forces will generate changing water pressure in
the skirt compartments during the first stage of skirt penetration. However, every effort should be made to
avoid hydraulic instabilities in general. Piping along the skirts may imperil the capacity to compensate for
tilt by applying suction and over-pressure in skirt compartments, as well as complicate grouting and impair
final stability.

(ii) Skirt penetration resistance

Due to erosion occurring at an early stage of skirt penetration, the penetration resistance on the concrete
skirts has been less than expected for short concrete skirts with extended steel skirts. Inspections of
submarines have shown erosion trenches. Significant unequal skirt penetration resistance has
been observed over the platform region. Variations in the thickness of dense top sand or gravel layers are the
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main cause of this. It is necessary to assess the impact of a considerable eccentricity on skirt penetration
resistance. A large number of cone tests may show to be the most reliable foundation for this decision.

After the loading is halted, the skirt will continue to penetrate. This is due to soil relaxation, and it will vary
depending on the type of soil. To avoid overstretching the slab or other pieces, the ballasting must be
terminated with enough margin for this final penetration.

(iii) Skirt and soil capacity for horizontal loads

The following two items have to be assessed:

(a). First, horizontal loads acting on the platform, as a function of sea state and second, skirt and soil
capacity, to withstand horizontal loads as a function of penetration depth.

(b). As the skirts penetrate, the resonance frequency changes and due consideration has to be given to this
when assessing the loads.

Fig- 7 – Schematics of position of skirts in different platforms

4.3: Base Contact

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There appear to be three different design principles that are relevant:
(i) The base construction is built to withstand the harshest loads while remaining compatible with soil
conditions and seabed topography.
(ii) The bottom construction is built to withstand a specific contact pressure, and earth pressure cells and
strain gauges allow ballasting to be stopped before a critical contact pressure develops. 3. The bottom slab is
not meant to come into contact with the seabed. The distance between the bottom slab and the seafloor must
be measured extremely precisely in this scenario.

4.4 Grouting:

Grouting of the space between the seafloor and the base of the structure is carried out to keep the platform
level; Avoid piping from water pockets below the structure; Avoid overstressing of any structural element;
Avoid further skirt penetration; Secure an even soil reaction force on the base.
Two distinct evacuation mechanisms have been implemented. The exhaust pipes are terminated in one
example, and the grout exits into the sea at a specific elevation, with no way to inspect the grout quality at
this point. The increased pressure in the skirt compartment can be used to determine when the grout is
running up the exhaust pipe and into the sea. In addition, the compartment's computed theoretical volume
should be compared to the amount of grout injected (flow meter).

The exhaust pipes pass a checkpoint where samples can be taken from time to time until the grout quality is
satisfactory in the other system, which enables greater control of the grouting.

Check the skirt pressure and the grout volume.

4.5 Installations through the base slab

Installations via the base slab must be put after the platform has been erected and any necessary grouting has
been completed. Installation of conductors, drilling for deep piezometers, deep settlement reference sites,
and possible deep drainage walls will all be part of the plan to improve foundation conditions.

Installing conductors in a safe and efficient manner is critical. Drill cuttings for the 0.76 m diameter
conductors were put into the drill shaft when drilling was undertaken within a shaft due to the large height of
the drill deck above sea level. To maintain suitable subsoil slopes, the water level in the shaft must be
adjusted. The relevance of measuring skirt water pressure during conductor installation has been
demonstrated.

4.6 : Data acquisition system

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All observation data should be made available to people in charge of the installation immediately and in a
transparent manner. In most cases, data processing is done on a computer. This allows for the presentation of
both measured and calculated numbers in a user-friendly format.

5. Advantages of concrete offshore platform:

a) Lower maintenance costs: The average annual maintenance costs of the concrete barges are found to
be about 1/3 compared to steel barges, because concrete in water has lesser problems than the steel.

b) Lower fabrication costs: The fabrication cost showed a saving of 16 percent compared to that of
steel.

c) Longer life of the structure.

d) Low Construction Cost: Constructions of concrete vessel in a dry dock makes use of traditional civil
engineering materials and less skilled labour, steel vessel require skilled welders and a lot of other
costly materials for connections.

e) Better motion behaviour.

f) High Mass Moment of Inertia

g) Low Centre of Gravity/Good Station Keeping Behaviour/Reduced Motions

h) Good Impact Resistance

i) Reduced Down-Time due to Inspection: Steel structures offshore tend to be harder to inspect than
concrete, steel structures consist of many tubes and joints, many of them at locations which are not
easily accessible. The few, large pieces in a concrete structure can be more easily inspected visually
from a diving bell or sub.

j) Slower Thermal Response/Better Insulation

k) Resistance to Fatigue and Crack Propagation

l) Resistance to Buckling

m) The concrete tanks are so massive, they can carry heavy oil production platforms up top

n) Performs well under low temperature conditions. It is well known that the strength of concrete
increases with lower temperature. This feature gives concrete advantages as a building material for
vessels carrying LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) or working in arctic areas

o) Construction time: Concrete vessel construction time is 18 months whereas steel vessel construction
time is 36 months.

p) Concrete Platforms are safer for the people working on it

q) Concrete Platforms can support large areas of deck, hence the Crude oil capacity can be adjusted.
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 6. Limitation of gravity platform

a) It is inappropriate for the sites with poor soil conditions.

b) Falling of the natural frequencies during the range of power of the wave spectrum

c) Certain loads are considered for designing and construction including – wind forces, wave forces, ice
and snow loads, earthquake loads and current loads.

d) It is inappropriate for sites facing heavy wind or heavy wave conditions.

e) The water depth that, concrete platforms can work well is within 200 m and the best from 100 to 150
m.

f) It is inappropriate for sites having higher probability of earthquakes.

7. Storage of oil in gravity platform

Generally, the concrete structures are so massive that they include oil storage tanks at little or no extra cost.
The area is so large, such that proper storage facility is present on the platform itself. In some cases,
additional oil storage tankers can also be used with the help ships, or barges.

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8. List of gravity platforms that are constructed –

Name Year Location Status

Adriatic LNG 2008 Adriatic Sea IN USE
Bream B 1996 Bass Strait IN USE
Beryl A North Sea IN USE
Brent B 1976 North Sea IN USE
Brent C 1981 North Sea IN USE
Brent D 1976 North Sea IN USE
Cormorant A 1979 North Sea IN USE
Draugen North Sea IN USE
Dunlin A 1978 North Sea IN USE
Frigg CDP1 North Sea IN USE
Frigg MCP1 North Sea IN USE
Frigg TP1 North Sea IN USE
Gulfaks A 1986 North Sea IN USE
Gulfaks B 1988 North Sea IN USE
Gulfaks C 1990 North Sea IN USE
Hang Tuah ACE 2001 West Natuna Sea IN USE
Hibernia 1997 Jeanne D Arc IN USE
Lunskoye 2007 Sea of Okhotsk IN USE
Malampaya 2001 South China Sea IN USE
Ninian 1978 North Sea IN USE
Oseberg A 1988 North Sea IN USE
Piltun Astokhskoye 2007 Sea of Okhotsk IN USE
Ravenspurn North North Sea IN USE
Schwedeneck-See 1983 Bay of Kiel DEMOLISHED
A
Schwedeneck-See 1983 Bay of Kiel DEMOLISHED
B
Sleipner A 1993 North Sea IN USE
South Arne 1999 North Sea IN USE
Statfjord A 1979 North Sea IN USE
Statfjord B 1982 Nozzzzrth Sea IN USE
Statfjord C 1985 North Sea IN USE
Troll A Platform 1995 North Sea IN USE
Wandoo B 1996 North West Shelf IN USE
West Tuna 1996 Bass Strait IN USE

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9. CONCLUSION –

 During completion of this project, we got to know about the challenges the Offshore drilling and
production industries face straight from the day 1 till the well is producing.
 Then we moved on, to the whole installation process of the platform along with to the different
types of Gravity platforms.
 Towards the end, we have included about the various advantages of the concrete based structures its
limitations and all the names of gravity platforms that are constructed till date.

10. REFERENCES –
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1. International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering (IJITEE) ISSN: 2278-3075,
Volume-7 Issue-3, December 2017
2. Nigerian Journal of Technology Vol. 30, No. 1, March 2011.
3. Offshore Petroleum Drilling and Production | Sukumar Laik
4. Design of offshore concrete gravity platforms | Amaziah Walter Otunyo
5. https://www.seasteading.org/cocrete-structures/

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