Design of Cylindrical Hull Offshore Platforms for Production from Arctic Shelf Fields

Abstract

The paper substantiates the choice of a cylindrical offshore floating platform with the possibility of construction and operation in harsh Arctic conditions. The characteristics of calculating the required clearance from ice and waves are given. A calculation of the working draft for the planned platform is presented. The permissible mass of the body has been determined as a first approximation. A calculation was performed for the characteristics of the superstructure (SS). The main criteria for designing an anchor retention system are determined. The design of the nuclear power supply system was carried out in the “Anchored Structures” program. Based on the design results, the stability of the structure was also checked. When choosing the fundamental design of the platform, the seaworthiness characteristics of the moored platform, global ice loads, integral assessments of resistance to ice formations, and the placement of technological equipment were taken into account. Based on the main dimensions of the platform and the territorial proximity to the field, a manufacturing plant was selected that has the appropriate capacity to implement the project. The metacentric height of the structure was calculated. The volume of hydrocarbon resources on the Arctic shelf has huge estimates, which vary from 50-60 billion tons of oil equivalent to 100 billion. In addition to the problems characteristic of the Arctic zone associated with the short Arctic season, the fragile ecology, and the lack of logistics bases, there are other problems, related to sectoral sanctions that were announced by the United States and the European Union. Under the conditions of these sanctions, the question of localizing the production of our own equipment in Russia became very acute. The development of the Arctic shelf under sanctions is the main strategic objective of the Russian Federation, and the result of the work may be the possibility of designing a platform with a cylindrical hull that complies with the rules of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and a positive coefficient of buoyancy.