An ultra-deep-water alternative

A uniquely shaped semisubmersible drilling and production platform, called Octabuoy, could rival spars, tension leg platforms (TLPs) and conventional semisubmersibles as the floating production system of choice for developing ultra-deep-water fields. Its name is derived from the octagonal ring pontoon that keeps the structure afloat and supports four columns and the topside facility. Anne Feltus reports

THE OCTABUOY production facility is also designed to feature drilling, well-completion and workover and maintenance capabilities. The concept has undergone extensive numerical analysis and model testing and has received approval in principle from Det Norske Veritas, the Norwegian ship-classification consulting company, as a critical step towards bringing the platform into service. The concept was conceived over two years ago by Norway's Moss Maritime (now part of Saipem), which is active in Houston, Texas. Since then, interest in this innovative technology has intensified, as oil and gas firms look for economic ways to develop marginal fields and discoveries in ever-deeper waters. The design