ABSTRACT
The offshore oil industry has a history since World War II. In the Gulf of Mexico, an offshore structure was placed in 1945 at 6 m water depth by drilling and an exploration well; a platform was installed in 1976 at 200 m water depth offshore California; and in 1978 at 300 m water depth in the Gulf Mexico. Planning of an offshore structure is complex due to a variety of parameters involved in deciding the type of structure that is to be commissioned. Apart from the water depth and sea state suitability, other factors such as functional aspects, geometric form, and construction and installation methods are also equally important. Figure 4.1 shows the preferred range of frequency bands within which offshore platforms are operable.
