ABSTRACT
Many offshore drilling companies are being challenged to check declining production and instead increase production with a new set of discoveries. For some time now, many major operators have seen a reduction in output. To counteract depletion, major oil companies are searching for new reserves in the most challenging regions: deep and ice-infested waters, which are challenging environments for oil exploration (GustoMSC, 2010). Increase in the number of drilling platforms started in 2010 with major orders, which have doubled the demand for deepwater floaters. It is therefore interesting and important to note that only plants with specific capabilities will carry out the quest for deepwater drilling of oil and gas reservoirs. The deepwater regions are located in very remote areas where logistics are another important design consideration. Because the distance between drill sites and ports increases, deck spaces need to be designed with variable load capacities between 10,000 and 20,000 tons. Deck space is very important because more space is required for third-party equipment for well completion and well testing activities, in addition to the space for real drilling equipment. With the new objective to explore and develop more deepwater offshore oil and gas fields and ensure more offshore production, new platforms, such as the DSS series developed by GustoMSC units, are equipped with vertical riser storage (Figure 1.1). The deck space required in such cases is less than that for horizontal storage, thus freeing-up the deck space. Present challenges in the Arctic regions in shallow waters include low temperature, remoteness, ice conditions, hostile ecosystem, and safety.
