Off Shore Engineering Giving Scope to Search Fossil Fuels
With the fossil fuel, particularly oil and gas getting almost exhausted on land and shallow depths, more and more oil producers are venturing out in the deep sea. They drill deep under the sea bed in search of them and getting considerable success in extracting crude oil and natural gas. However, to do so, special engineering techniques are needed, and it is none but offshore engineering. When we drill on land, it is called onshore drilling, whereas it becomes offshore drilling while drilling under the sea bed after preparing a special structure on the sea. Let us dig a bit more about offshore engineering.
The method
While going for offshore drilling, the companies engaged in the exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas must have a stable platform to engage the drilling rigs to drill under the sea bed. These platforms can be floating platforms, bottom founded platforms, or sub sea structures. Under each of the designs, there are many types of categories.
- Floating platforms – Under this type of platform, drilling ships or semi submersible structures are used. Although they float on the sea, they become a complete work station on which oil well rigs are deployed to drill under the sea bed.
- TLP or tension leg platforms – It is also a type of floating platform or production system that is moored with the help of tendons with the sea bed. With the help of pilling, the mooring pattern is kept stable so that drilling operations can be carried out without getting disturbed by the sea waves and the undercurrent. Manufacturers use this type of foundation to drill to the depth of 1500 to 1600 meters under the sea bed.
- Spar platforms – Offshore engineering is a part of naval engineering. And the connoisseurs of naval engineering have come up with this technology to drill to a depth of 3000 plus meters under the sea bed. A cylindrical and hollow hull can go under the sea bed to a depth of around 200 meters with the spar platforms to proceed for drilling. Again, the platforms are moored to the sea bed with the help of tendons and cables.
- Subsea structures – In this type of platform, it is the work of the offshore engineers to deploy the wellheads on the sea bed after boring is done using any of the other platforms used in deep-sea drilling. The wellheads are controlled remotely for operation.
The scope of work
With time, offshore engineering courses are gaining momentum, and there is a great demand for these types of engineers by almost all giant oil exploration companies. They are paid handsomely. A post-graduate degree in the subject can hone the engineers’ skills and help them learn the tips and tricks of building the offshore platforms. It is not only the oil exploration companies that look for these engineers, but companies engaged in marine construction, laying pipelines and cables, working in the offshore renewable energy sector also recruit them. It is one of the most precision works that these engineers do, and there is a minimal scope of errors. The work atmosphere is quite challenging, and the engineers need to work for many shifts at a stretch at times to meet the construction demand.
Overview
Energy, in the form of crude oil and gas or electricity generation through renewable energy venturing into the deep sea, is being tried and explored by many countries. Offshore engineering is the pillar stone to get success in this arena. Many world-leading companies are engaged in this critical business, and there is no shortage of work