GBS Installed for Russia’s Largest Offshore Production Platform

This week VOSCF, a joint venture between Sovcomflot and Van Oord, successfully installed a Gravity Based Structure (GBS) for the offshore platform Berkut in the Arkutun Dagi field offshore Sakhalin Island.

The GBS was designed and constructed by Kvaerner in the Russian mainland port of Vostochny in Nakhodka, for the Sakhalin 1 Project, operated by Exxon Neftegas Ltd.

The GBS with overall dimensions of 135 X 100 wide and 55 m tall has an overall weight of 160,000 tons. The GBS is designed to withstand the large forces that are imposed by ice fields up to two meters thick, seismic activity of the region, winter temperatures which can drop to 44 degree below zero and seas up to 13 to 16 m. Berkut will be the largest offshore production platform in Russia.

GBS tow commenced on the 3rd of June along a route of 1,900 km to the Arkutun Dagi field approximately 25 km off the northeast coast of Sakhalin Island. Upon arrival at site, the GBS was accurately positioned above its final location and was lowered to the seabed in a water depth of 35 m on 25 June 2012. Under base grouting has also been completed. Installation of scour protection rock is in progress.

The Arkutun-Dagi field is located approximately 25 kilometers offshore.  Plans call for developing the field from an offshore platform in an area where water  depths are approximately 35 meters. The full well-stream will be transported
via pipeline to the Chayvo OPF. After processing, the produced water will be re-injected to maintain reservoir pressure, while the processed oil and gas will be delivered via the crude and natural gas pipelines at the OPF. First production from the Arkutun-Dagi field is expected in 2014.

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Offshore Energy Today Staff, July 5, 2012