The paper deals ifith_~on~reteID.ixdesign, construction procedures and Quality control for the first concrete production platforms for the North Sea. The two Condeep structures (Beryl A and Brent B) are built iri Stavanger, Norway and are scheduled for completion in July 1975. * C). 314nlvk13d Lwl
The paper reviews the different types of floating production systems available ttt the petroleum industry and addresses why these platforms presently represent attractive candidates for future worldwide offshore field developments. Attention is focused on tension leg platforms monohull production vessels and semisubmersible production platforms. The potential of new concepts such as the Spar platform are mentioned. Further, the paper focuses on important design features and engineeflng challenges for the various platform types. In order to highlight the global design aspecfs, both topside facilities and support structures as well as mooring systems, risers, subsea facilities and motion behaviour are addressed. References to recent designs are made to illustrate the present state-of-the-art technology.
Concrete offshore platforms have been used successfully in the North Sea s~nce 1973. Considerable effort has been made in various fields to improve and optimize the design of these platforms. The paper concentrates on the development of high-strength concrete and its consequences for design. This development has focused on producing concrete of higher quality and on obtaining knowledge of the major properties of the concrete in the existing platforms. The data basis for such knowledge is extensive. Nearly 2 million m 3 of concrete have been produced for the North Sea platforms, and the quality and performance extensively monitored through rigorous quality assurance systems and in-situ tests. The data indicate that the obtained quality in the platforms is high, uniform and predictable and that it exceeds the requirements of the design specifications with ample margins.The data and experience obtained suggest higher util ization of high-strength concrete than allowed in most design codes. This may result in significant material saving and more cost-effective structures, particularly for deepwater platforms.References and illustrations at end of paper.
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