Question

What components are found on a modern offshore production platform? What are some distinctive features of offshore operations (compared to land)?

Answer 1

Components of offshore platform are:

Suction line, Motor or power source, hose, Draw-works, Standpipe, Goose-neck, Traveling block, Drill line, Crown block, Derrick, Racking Board, Setback (floor), Swivel (On newer rigs this may be replaced by a top drive), Rotary table, Bell nipple, Drill string, Drill bit, Wellhead, Flow line etc.

Features of offshore operations are:

• Offshore wind speeds tend to be steadier than on land. A steadier supply of wind means a more reliable source of energy.
• Offshore wind speeds tend to be faster than on land.¹ Small increases in wind speed yield large increases in energy production: a turbine in a 15-mph wind can generate twice as much energy as a turbine in a 12-mph wind. Faster wind speeds offshore mean much more energy can be generated.
• Many coastal areas have very high energy needs. Half of the United States’ population lives in coastal areas,¹ with concentrations in major coastal cities. Building offshore wind farms in these areas can help to meet those energy needs from nearby sources.