Spar Platforms

1. SPAR PLATFORMS
Group 1

2. SPAR Applications
•Presently there are 17SPARs in operation
▫3 Classic SPARs
▫13Truss SPARs
▫ONLY
1Cell SPAR
•All except the Kikeh Truss SPAR , located off the
Malaysian coast, can be found in the Gulf of
Mexico
•SPAR platforms are used in ultra- deep waters

3. SPAR Applications
SPAR Platforms are commonly used in
deep water applications for:
▫Drilling
Mad Dog SPAR
▫Storage
Brent SPAR
▫Production
•Neptune SPAR
▫Unmanned
•Buoys

4. SPAR Projects
Company Platform Type Year Installed
Kerr-McGee Neptune Classic 1996
ChevronTexaco Genesis Classic 1998
ExxonMobil Hoover Diana Classic 2000
Kerr-McGee Nansen Truss 2001
Murphy Medusa Truss 2002
Kerr-McGee Boomvang Truss 2002
bp Horn Mountain Truss 2002
bp Holstein Truss 2003
Kerr-McGee Gunnison Truss 2004
bp Mad Dog Truss 2005

5. SPAR Projects

6. SPAR Design Considerations
•All SPAR platforms utilize strakes to reduce vortex induced motions
•Anodes are commonly found on SPAR hulls to reduce corrosion
•Different topside decks can be attached to SPARs depending on the
job. Some of these decks are:
▫A full drilling rig (3,000hp)
▫A workoverrig (600-1,000hp)
▫Production equipment
•The world’s first production SPAR was used in 1996
•Previously, SPARs had been used as oil
storage vessels (Brent project)

7. SPAR Design Considerations
•There are 3 basic designs
for SPAR Platforms
1.Classic SPAR
2.Truss SPAR
3.Cell SPAR
•The different SPAR designs reflect industry innovations
1.Each design is an improvement on an older model and offers improved functionality at a reduced cost

8. Classic SPAR Platform
•The world’s first production
Classic SPAR, Neptune, was
installed in the Gulf of Mexico in
1996
•Oryx Energy developed Neptune, and was later acquired by Kerr- McGee in 1999.
•The Classic SPAR hull is basically a cylinder
•This cylinder is separated into three main sections:
1.Upper section
•Compartmentalized and filled
with air to provide the buoyancy
2.Centerwell
•Flooded with seawater
3.Keel section (“Soft Tank”)
•
Compartmentalized to aid in transportation . Also contains any field- installed ballast.

9. Genesis SPAR
•Genesis was the second Classic SPAR
ever built
•Classic SPARs have 4 major
components: a hull, a mooring
system, risers, and topside decks.
•SPAR designs are inherently
stable due to their deep draft hulls.
•Dry Tree technology can be
utilized on a SPAR platform.
•SPAR platforms tend to be 30%
cheaper than other options in deep
water.

10. Truss SPAR
Platform
•Truss Platforms were introduced by Kerr-
McGee in 2001 when the Nansen was
installed in the Gulf of Mexico
•The Truss SPAR design has 3 main
components:
1.Hard Tank
•Provides most of the in-place buoyancy for
the SPAR.
1.Truss Section
•Supports the heave plates and provides
separation between the keel tank and hard
tank.
1.Keel Tank (“Soft Tank”)
•
Contains the fixed ballast and acts as a natural hang-off location for export pipelines
and flowlines.

11. PerdidoSPAR
•Shell’s most recent Truss SPAR broke the
deepwater record and will be operational in 2010.
•Truss SPARs are characterized by the tubular
members that provide a connection between
the hard tank and the keel.
•The truss system also support to the heave
plates which reduce improve stability
by reducing heave.

12. Cell SPAR Platform
•The Cell SPAR was also designed by Kerr-McGee
in the Red Hawk project
•Red Hawk was installed in the Gulf of Mexico and
made operational in 2004
•Cell SPARs have several design features
including:
•The Hard Tank is made up of 6 cylindrical tubes that
surround a seventh central tube.
•Each of these tubes is 20 ft in diameter and contain
variable-ballast tanks and redundant, independent cells
•The middle hull section is an extension of three of the seven
cylindrical tubes, and serves as a rigid connection between
the hard tank and the keel tank.
•
The lower section, or keel, contains the permanent ballast

13. Red Hawk SPAR
•First and only Cell SPAR
•The separate tubes
are connected by heave
plates
•Heave plates give the
structure added
stability by reducing
the force transferred
from ocean waves
and current.

14. SPAR Economics
Truss SPARs
▫The hull of a truss SPAR is smaller, reducing
both material cost and the cost of transportation.
Also for some truss SPARs, the actual truss
system can be made in the US and then mated
with the hard tank when it arrives.
Cell SPARs
▫
Because of the reduced size of the cylinders,
fabrication of cell SPARs can take place in the US,
meaning that there is no transportation cost.
Classic SPARs
▫The US does not have a facility large enough to construct SPAR hulls.
Therefore, almost all SPAR hulls have been manufactured overseas ,
typically in Finland, and then transported to the US, which increases the
cost of the project.

15. SPAR Economics
•SPAR designs are the most economical for ultra-
deep water.
•By utilizing a mooring system instead of
permanent legs, SPAR platforms reduce materials
cost and can be moved to different wells.
•Oryx spent $300 million on
Neptune, the world’s first
production SPAR platform.
•Neptune was estimated to
save Oryx and it’s 50/50
partner $90 million.

16. SPAR Construction
•The Hard Tank of a Truss
SPAR is constructed in
halves
•Later the two completed halves are
brought together
•Then the two halves are
joined to form the top of the
Truss SPAR’s Hard Tank

17. SPAR Construction
•The SPAR hull
is shipped in
sections that will
later be mated
together.
•The hull is joined and towed
out to the well location.
•The SPAR hull is then flooded with
seawater and up-ended. Once in
place, the hull is connected to the
already installed mooring system.
•The topsides are then
attached to the SPAR hull.

18. SPAR construction timeline:
Perdido
•http://www.shell.us/home/content/usa/aboutshell/strategy/major_projects/perdido/tracking/tracking_project_ncb07.html

19. References
•“Industry Projects.” Offshore Technology. 2009. 21 Apr. 2009 <http://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/>.
•“Offshore: ABS to Class Cell Spar for Kerr- McGee.” Marine Link. 2 Apr. 2003. 19 Apr. 2009
<http://www.marinelink.com/Story/Offshore:+ABS+to+Class+Cell+Spar+for+Kerr- McGee- 11137.html>.
•"PerdidoDevelopment Project." Shell. 5 Sept. 2008. Shell oil. 20 Apr. 2009
<http://www.shell.us/home/content/usa/aboutshell/strategy/major_projects/perdido/tracking/tracking_project_ncb07.html>.
•“SparTEC.” FloaTEC. 2009. 20 Apr. 2009 <http://www.floatec.com/spar.htm>.
•Ultramarine, Inc. Welcome to Ultramarine. 1996. 24 Apr. 2009 <http://www.ultramarine.com>.