Gravity-Based Offshore Production Structure for Icy Waters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing offshore hydrocarbon processing technologies, such as FLNG and FDLPSOU, are not suitable for water areas with heavy ice conditions due to positioning challenges and limited functionality of compartments, restricting their use to ice-free seas.

Innovation Solution

A gravity-based structure (GDCPSO) with a central part and protruding part, featuring compartments for hydrocarbon processing, storage, and ballast, allowing for stable installation and operation in icy waters without anchoring or mooring, and enabling hydrocarbon extraction, treatment, and processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If FLNG or FDLPSOU systems are used for offshore hydrocarbon processing, then hydrocarbon extraction and processing can be performed, but reliable positioning cannot be ensured in water areas with heavy ice conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning reliabilityVSAvoidice conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The structure is divided into a central part and a protruding part, where the protruding part acts as an independent ice protection element that segments the ice impact away from the main processing facilities in the central part

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protruding part is designed to actively interact with ice by deflecting and breaking ice flows, converting the harmful ice impact into a protective mechanism that shields the central part from ice damage while maintaining positioning reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a gravity-based structure with multiple compartments is used, then storage and processing functionality is improved, but the number of ballast compartments increases without additional functions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage and processing functionalityVSAvoidnumber of ballast compartments

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ballast compartments are designed to serve dual purposes: providing ballast function for structural stability and serving as protective barriers against ice impact, thereby eliminating the need for separate ice protection structures and reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If hydrocarbons offloading is limited to one side of the GBS, then structural design is simplified, but offloading versatility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural design complexityVSAvoidoffloading versatility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The GBS is designed with asymmetric features where the protruding part extends along specific sides to create natural offloading interfaces, allowing offloading on multiple sides while maintaining structural simplicity through the asymmetric protection geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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 GDCPSO provides stable installation and operation in icy waters, supports hydrocarbon production and processing, and facilitates hydrocarbon offloading, while protecting against drifting ice and ensuring structural integrity.

Implementation Method 1

a gravity-based structure (GDCPSO) with a central part and protruding part, featuring compartments for hydrocarbon processing, storage, and ballast, allowing for stable installation and operation in icy waters without anchoring or mooring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS20250320678A1Offshore production facility for producing, treating and refining raw gas

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 PUBLICHNOE AKTSIONERNOE OBSHCHESTVO NOVATEK

AI summary

An offshore industrial complex for raw gas extraction, treatment, and processing includes a gravity-based structure (GBS) with a topside on it, including a drilling facility with drilling rig, flare unit, process equipment for raw gas treatment and processing as modules, and living quarters. The GBS has central and protruding parts. The central part is a rectangular prism with a top slab, on which the process equipment is installed. The protruding part stretches along the central part sides and has vertical external walls. The central and protruding parts share a base slab, the protruding part being lower in height than the central part. The central part has longitudinal and transverse walls that form compartments, including ballast compartments and compartments accommodating storage tanks for respective processed products. The protruding part has internal walls that are perpendicular to its external walls and form ballast compartments.