Elastomeric pads are high impact energy absorbers
that are used during installation of offshore gas top integrated
deck production platforms. In deepwater offshore gas production,
it is cost effective that the top decks are fabricated and commissioned
onshore. After completion, the top deck is then floatover by
barges into the open sea and mated onto pre-installed steel
jacket legs structures in the designated production field.
The elastomeric pads are placed onto each of the jackets legs.
During offshore transfer of the top deck onto the jacket legs,
high impact energy is generated and this is absorbed by the
elastomeric pads that are made of natural rubber.
High technological inputs are required in the design of the
elastomeric pad. It has to carry the load ranging from 8,000
ton to 12,000 ton weight of the top integrated deck. These elastomeric
pads are also subjected to large displacement in the static
and dynamic conditions.
The MRB has been consulted and successfully undertook several
projects started in 1995 on the use of the elastomeric pads
in the installation of offshore gas production top integrated
decks. Typical elastomeric pads are shown in Figure 1 and installation
of the deck is in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Installation of top integrated
deck
Manufacturing of Elastomeric Pads
Elastomeric pad is made up of an assembly of modular units of
outer diameter ranges from 1.2 m to 1.8 m. and height from 1.4
m to 2.3 m. Each modular units is fabricated separately prior
to assembly.
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Figure 1: Elastomeric Pads |
