KR20170133953A - Offshore structure - Google Patents

Abstract

An offshore structure is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the offshore structure comprises: a first platform of which a portion is exposed to a water surface, and a remaining portion is positioned in water to be semi-submersible; and a second platform which is entirely submerged in the water at the predetermined depth and fixated and connected to the seabed, wherein the first platform is flexibly connected to the second platform.

Description

Offshore Structures {OFFSHORE STRUCTURE}

The present invention relates to a marine structure for drilling, production and storage of marine resources such as crude oil and natural gas buried in the sea floor, and more particularly to a marine structure for minimizing the part of an offshore structure near a water surface, This is about an offshore structure that can receive less load.

Offshore structures are for drilling, production and storage of marine resources such as crude oil and natural gas.

The offshore structure is installed in a place where seabed resources are buried, such as the coast.

Offshore structures are equipped with production facilities for drilling and producing seabed resources and storage facilities for storing seabed resources.

The seabed resources produced by the marine structure production facility are stored in the storage facility.

On the other hand, some of the offshore structures are exposed on the surface of the water and the rest are submerged. The part of the offshore structure near the surface of the water receives a lot of environmental loads due to wind, waves, or currents. Also, the part of the offshore structure near the sea floor receives a lot of hydrostatic pressure.

Conventionally, in the case of an offshore structure, the aforementioned production facility and storage facility are all close to the surface of the water.

Therefore, the volume of the part of the offshore structure near the surface of the water was large, so that it received a relatively large environmental load.

The present invention is realized by recognizing at least any one of the above-mentioned conventional needs or problems.

One aspect of the object of the present invention is to reduce the environmental load on the offshore structure.

One aspect of the object of the present invention is to minimize the volume of the portion of the offshore structure that is near the surface of the water.

An offshore structure related to one embodiment for realizing at least one of the above problems may include the following features.

An offshore structure according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first platform, a part of which is exposed on the water surface and the other is located in water and semi-submerged; And a second platform, the entirety of which is submerged to a predetermined depth in water and the first platform is connected flexibly and fixedly connected to the seabed; . ≪ / RTI >

In this case, the first platform may be connected to the second platform by a flexible first connection member.

In addition, the first connection member may be a flexible ribiser.

The second platform and the seabed may be connected by a second connecting member, which is a rigid body.

In addition, the second connection member may be a rigid riser.

The second platform may be connected to and supported by a supporting structure fixed to the seabed.

In addition, the support structure may be a compliant tower, a jacket-type structure, or a tendon.

The first platform may include a production facility capable of drilling the seabed resources, and the second platform may include a storage facility for storing the seabed resources drilled by the production facility.

In addition, the first platform may further include a residence where an operator drilling the submarine resource using the production facility resides.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the offshore structure can include a first platform that is semi-submerged and a second platform that submerges in the water.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to minimize the portion of the offshore structure near the water surface.

And also, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the environmental load to which the offshore structure is subjected can be reduced.

1 is a view showing a first embodiment of an offshore structure according to the present invention.
2 is a view showing a second embodiment of an offshore structure according to the present invention.
3 is a view showing a third embodiment of an offshore structure according to the present invention.

In order to facilitate understanding of the features of the present invention as described above, the marine structure related to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.

The embodiments described below will be described on the basis of embodiments best suited to understand the technical characteristics of the present invention and the technical features of the present invention are not limited by the embodiments described, It is to be understood that the invention can be practiced with embodiments. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. In order to facilitate an understanding of the embodiments described below, in the reference numerals shown in the accompanying drawings, among the constituent elements which perform the same function in the respective embodiments, the related constituent elements are indicated by the same or an extension line number.

Offshore structure First Embodiment

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an offshore structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

A first embodiment of an offshore structure 100 according to the present invention may include a first platform 200 and a second platform 300 as shown in FIG.

The first platform 200 may be partially exposed on the water surface WS and the remainder may be located in the water UW. That is, the first platform 200 may be semi-submerged as shown in FIG.

Thereby, the portion of the offshore structure 100 close to the water surface WS can be minimized. Environmental loads due to wind, waves, currents or the like are received only by the first platform 200 among the offshore structures 100. Therefore, when the first platform 200 is configured with relatively small volume configurations among the offshore structures 100, the volume and the load of the first platform 200 are reduced so that the environmental load received by the first platform 200 . In this way, the environmental load of the entire offshore structure 100 can be reduced.

The first platform 200 may be provided with a production facility (not shown) capable of drilling the submarine resources such as oil and natural gas.

The production facilities are relatively small in volume as compared with storage facilities for storing submarine resources such as oil and natural gas, which will be described later. Therefore, when the first platform 200 is provided with the production facility, the volume and the load of the first platform 200 can be reduced, and the environmental load received by the first platform 200 can be reduced.

The production facility provided in the first platform 200 is not particularly limited, and any well-known production facility can be used as long as it can drill the seabed resources.

In addition to the above-described production equipment, the first platform 200 may also be provided with a residence (not shown) in which an operator drilling the seabed resource using the production facility resides. Since the volume of the first platform 200 is smaller than that of the residential structure storage facility, the volume and the load of the first platform 200 may be reduced and the environmental load of the first platform 200 may be reduced have.

The configuration of the docking station provided in the first platform 200 is not particularly limited and may be any known configuration as long as the docking station can be occupied by the operator.

For example, the first platform 200 may include a superstructure 210, a column 220, and a buoyancy member 230, as shown in FIG.

The upper structure 210 may be provided with the above-described production facility, a residence or the like. To this end, the upper structure 210 may be provided with a flat space in which a production facility, a residence or the like may be provided.

The pillars 220 may support the upper structure 210. For example, four pillars 220 can support each edge of the superstructure 210, which is a rectangular shape. However, the number, shape, or configuration of the pillars 220 is not particularly limited, and any number, shape, or configuration can be used as long as the number, shape, or configuration can support the upper structure 210.

One side of the buoyancy member 230 may be connected to the lower end of the column 220 such as the column 220 and the other side may be connected to the lower end of the other column 220, If four pillars 220 are provided as described above, four buoyancy members 230 may be connected between the lower ends of the pillars 220, respectively.

The buoyancy member (230) is hollow and can generate buoyancy. Accordingly, not only the force according to the weight of the first platform 200 but also the buoyancy of the buoyancy member 230 can act in the opposite direction to the first platform 200. The force due to the weight of the first platform 200 and the buoyancy force due to the buoyancy member 230 are balanced so that the first platform 200 can be semi-submerged as shown in FIG.

The buoyancy member 230 may be, for example, a Pontoon. However, the buoyancy member 230 is not particularly limited, and any well-known buoyancy member may be used as long as buoyancy is generated.

The structure of the first platform 200 is not limited to the structure including the upper structure 210, the column 220 and the buoyancy member 230 described above, and a part thereof is exposed on the water surface WS, UW) and semi-submerged, any known structure is possible.

The second platform 300 can be submerged to a predetermined depth in the water UW as shown in FIG.

As the depth of the second platform 300 becomes deeper, the wind acting on the second platform 300 and the environmental load due to waves and currents become smaller. However, as the depth of the second platform 300 becomes deeper, the hydrostatic pressure acting on the second platform 300 becomes larger.

Therefore, the diving depth of the second platform 300 is determined by the sum of the environmental load due to the ocean current acting on the second platform 300 and the hydrostatic pressure with little environmental load due to wind and waves acting on the second platform 300, This minimum depth is desirable.

Thus, when the second platform 300 is underwater (UW), not only the force according to its own weight but also the buoyancy acting in the opposite direction acts on the second platform 300 as well. In addition, the vertical distance between the second platform 300 and the seabed SS is also reduced.

Therefore, the second platform 300 can be supported by the support structure 600, which will be described later, which is relatively small in size, height and weight fixed to the seabed SS.

The first platform 200 may be connected to the second platform 300 as shown in FIG. Accordingly, even if the first platform 200 is subjected to an environmental load due to wind, waves, and currents, the first platform 200 can freely move to the semi-submerged state on the water surface WS within an allowable range. Therefore, the first platform 200 may not be deformed, broken, or overturned by the environmental load.

The first platform 200 may be connected to the second platform 300 by a flexible first connection member 400. The first connection member 400 may be, for example, a flexible riser. However, the first connection member 400 is not particularly limited, and any known connection member may be used as long as it can flexibly connect the first platform 200 and the second platform 300.

A flexible connecting member, such as a flexible riser, may cause the platform to move as described above to prevent the platform from being deformed, damaged or overturned by environmental loads.

However, flexible connecting members such as flexible risers are expensive. In the first embodiment of the offshore structure 100 according to the present invention, as described above, the first platform 200 semi-submerged and the second platform 300 submerged to a predetermined depth are connected by a flexible connecting member such as a flexible riser Respectively.

Therefore, since the length of the flexible connecting member required is shorter than that of connecting the seabed SS to the part of the platform on the water surface WS with a flexible connecting member such as a flexible riser, Broken, or overturned.

The second platform 300 may be fixedly connected to the seabed SS. The second platform 300 and the seabed SS can be connected by a rigid second connection member 500. The second linking member 500 may be, for example, a rigid riser. However, the second connecting member 500 is not particularly limited, and any known one can be used as long as the second platform 300 can be connected to be fixed to the seabed SS.

The rigid connecting member is less expensive than the flexible connecting member described above. However, a rigid connecting member can not prevent the platform from being deformed, broken or rolled over by environmental loads like the flexible connecting member described above.

In the first embodiment of the offshore structure 100 according to the present invention, as described above, the second platform 300 of the seabed SS and the underwater UW is connected by the rigid second connection member 500, The underwater (UW) second platform (300) and the semi-submerged first platform (200) are connected by a flexible first connection member (400).

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the platform from being deformed, damaged or overturned by the environmental load, while being connected by the connecting member from the seabed SS to the part of the platform on the water surface WS at a relatively low cost as described above.

The second platform 300 may be connected to and supported by a support structure 600 fixed to the seabed SS as shown in FIG.

The support structure 600 may be, for example, a Compliant Tower. The compliant tower is a structure that is flexible to the external force so that the joint part can be bent by using a flexible member. However, there is a disadvantage in that the installation depth is limited and the cost is excessive.

However, in the first embodiment of the offshore structure 100 according to the present invention, since the support structure 600 is located between the seabed SS and the second platform 300 of underwater UW, The client tower can be used to support the second platform 300 as a support structure 600.

Further, as described above, since the compliant tower is flexible to the external force, it is possible to prevent deformation, breakage or overturn of the second platform 300 due to unexpected force between the seabed SS and the second platform 300 have.

The second platform 300 may be provided with a storage facility for storing submarine resources such as petroleum and natural gas drilled by the production facilities provided in the first platform 200.

The storage facility may include one or a plurality of storage tanks, for example, in which a storage space in which submarine resources can be stored is formed. The storage facility may also include a separator for separating water from petroleum and the like.

However, the configuration of the storage facility is not particularly limited, and any known structure can be used as long as it can store the seabed resources such as petroleum or natural gas drilled by the production facility of the first platform 200.

Such a storage facility is relatively bulky than a production facility capable of drilling the aforementioned seabed resources. Therefore, it is possible to support the second platform 300 by the support structure 600 having a comparatively small size, height, and weight because the second platform 300 is provided with the storage facility, have.

Offshore structure Second Embodiment

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

2 is a view showing a second embodiment of an offshore structure according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the first embodiment of an offshore structure according to the present invention described with reference to FIG. 1, There is a difference in that the structure 600 is a jacket-type structure.

Therefore, the differences will be mainly described below, and the remaining components can be replaced with those described with reference to FIG.

In the second embodiment of the offshore structure 100 according to the present invention, the support structure 600 fixed to the sea floor and supporting the second platform 300 may be a jacket- have.

Unlike the compliant tower described above, which is flexible to an external force, the jacket-type structure is not flexible to external force. Therefore, the jacket-type structure is more limited in installation depth than the compliant tower, but has an advantage in cost.

In the first embodiment of the offshore structure 100 according to the present invention, since the support structure 600 is located between the seabed SS and the second platform 300 of underwater UW, the inexpensive jacket- The second platform 300 can be used for supporting the second platform 300.

In addition, since there is no force between the seabed SS and the second platform 300 that affects the second platform 300 in addition to hydrostatic pressure and unexpected force, the jacket-type structure is used as the support structure 600, The platform 300 can be sufficiently supported.

Offshore structure Third Embodiment

Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

3 is a view showing a third embodiment of an offshore structure according to the present invention.

A third embodiment of an offshore structure according to the present invention comprises a first embodiment of an offshore structure according to the present invention described with reference to FIG. 1 and a second embodiment on which a second platform 300 is fixed There is a difference in that the structure 600 is a tendon.

Therefore, the differences will be mainly described below, and the remaining components can be replaced with those described with reference to FIG.

In a third embodiment of the offshore structure 100 according to the present invention, the support structure 600 fixed to the sea floor and supporting the second platform 300 may be a tendon.

Tendon is made by laminating steel wires for PC (Prestressed Concrete) in several lines and has a relatively large tensile force. The tendon is more effective when the buoyancy of the first platform 200 and the second platform 300 is larger than the force due to the weight of the second platform 300. The tendon is more flexible than the complaint tower described above , It is possible to prevent deformation, breakage or rollover of the second platform 300 due to an unexpected force between the seabed SS and the second platform 300.

In addition, since only the seabed SS and the second platform 300 are connected, even if a plurality of seals are used, only a relatively shorter length than the generally used length is required, so that the construction can be facilitated and the cost can be reduced.

As described above, using the offshore structure according to the present invention, the offshore structure can include a semi-submerged first platform and a second platform submerged in water to minimize the portion of the offshore structure near the water surface , The environmental load of an offshore structure can be reduced.

The above-described marine structure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but all or some of the embodiments may be selectively combined so that various modifications may be made to the embodiments.

100: Offshore structure 200: First platform
210: superstructure 220: column
230: Buoyancy member 300: Second platform
400: first connecting member 500: second connecting member
600: support structure WS: water surface
UW: Underwater SS: Sea bottom

Claims (9)

A first platform that is partially exposed to the surface of water and the remainder is placed in water and semi-submerged; And
A second platform, the entirety of which is submerged to a predetermined depth in water and the first platform is connected flexibly and fixedly connected to the seabed;
≪ / RTI > 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the first platform is connected to the second platform by a flexible first connection member. 3. The offshore structure according to claim 2, wherein the first connecting member is a flexible rib. 3. The offshore structure according to claim 2, wherein the second platform and the seabed are connected by a second connecting member which is rigid. 5. The offshore structure according to claim 4, wherein the second connecting member is a rigid riser. The offshore structure according to claim 1, wherein the second platform is connected to and supported by a support structure fixed to a seabed. 7. The marine structure of claim 6, wherein the support structure is a Compliant Tower, a Jacket-type structure, or a Tendon. The offshore structure according to claim 1, wherein the first platform is provided with a production facility capable of drilling the seabed resource, and the second platform is provided with a storage facility storing the seabed resource drilled by the production facility. The offshore structure according to claim 8, wherein the first platform further comprises a residence inhabited by an operator drilling the seabed resource using the production facility.

Images