Column-Stabilized Float Structure for Offshore Oil Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing offshore oil production and storage solutions, such as semisubs and production ships, face challenges including poor damage stability, limited oil storage capacity, and operational limitations in exposed environments, especially when dealing with heavy oils or high-pressure conditions, and are not suitable for combined drilling and production operations.
Innovation Solution
A float structure with a column-stabilizing design featuring a central oil storage column and active ballast tanks, allowing for anchoring without turning with the weather, improved damage stability, and the ability to perform simultaneous drilling, production, and storage operations, while maintaining movement characteristics similar to traditional semisubs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If semisubs are used for offshore operations, then they can be used as oil rigs or anchored production floats, but they are not suitable for storage of produced oil and have poor damage stability
Solution Approach 1:
The float structure is divided into multiple independent support columns (at least three columns) that provide redundant stability. Each column acts as an independent stability element, so damage to one column does not compromise the entire structure, resolving the poor damage stability issue while maintaining offshore operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The oil storage functionality is integrated within the float structure itself by forming at least one support column as an oil store, eliminating the need for separate storage facilities and enabling the structure to function as both operational platform and storage facility simultaneously
2Quantity of substance
If production ships are used to store oil, then they can store produced oil, but they require expensive turrets to rotate with the weather in exposed ocean areas
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire production ship rotate with the weather through a turret system, the invention anchors the float structure in a fixed orientation and allows only the necessary connections (risers, cables) to accommodate environmental forces, eliminating the complex turret mechanism while maintaining oil storage capability
Solution Approach 2:
The float structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an oil storage facility, a production platform, and an anchored structure with fixed orientation, eliminating the need for separate turret systems required by traditional production ships
3Productivity
If production ships with turrets are used, then they work well for normal oil and gas production, but they are less suited for heavy oil or wax-containing oils due to high number of risers and control cables
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the unnecessary risers and control cables by using a moored float structure with fixed orientation, keeping only the essential connections for oil and gas transfer, thereby simplifying the system for problematic oils while maintaining production capability
4Ease of operation
If cylindrical floats are used to eliminate rotation with wind, then they can maintain fixed orientation, but they require large building docks with large diameters and integrated deck structures leading to longer building time and higher cost
Solution Approach 1:
The float structure uses multiple support columns instead of a single large cylindrical body, allowing the structure to be built in smaller, more accessible building docks while maintaining fixed orientation capability through the multi-column configuration
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of achieving fixed orientation through a large diameter cylindrical shape (one-dimensional solution), the invention uses a multi-column configuration that provides stability and fixed orientation through spatial distribution (three-dimensional solution), reducing building dock requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The float structure provides enhanced stability and operational flexibility, enabling safe and efficient oil storage and production in various environments, including deep waters and exposed conditions, with reduced risks of tilting or catastrophic damage, and allows for direct oil transfer from wells to the structure without long pipes.
Implementation Method 1
a bottom structure (6) for providing buoyancy to the float structure
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of active ballast tanks (10) are disposed in the middle section (5) of the bottom structure (6)
Data Source
AI summary
The float structure is constructed with a bottom structure providing buoyancy to the float structure, an upper deck and a number of support columns that connect the bottom structure and the equipment deck which is to be positioned above the surface of the water in which the float is arranged to operate. The float structure is characterized in that at least one of said support columns comprises a liquid storage column which is placed in the middle section of the float structure with the remaining support columns are positioned in the outer sections of the float structure. Active ballast tanks are disposed in the middle section of the bottom structure adjacent the liquid storage column and secondary ballast tanks are disposed in the outer part of the bottom structure.