Career Episode 2: Install a Minimum Facilities Platform (IS-34C) in Idd El Shargi South Dome offshore Qatar

This report is about the project of installing a Minimum Facilities Platform (IS-34C) in Idd El Shargi South Dome offshore Qatar by a Structural Engineer at TechnipFMC Doha. The report covers the objectives, distinctive activities, and identified issues and their solutions. The project aimed to replace one of the four conductors with a dual well conductor and was a pilot project for this concept where it tried to replace one of the four conductors with a dual well conductor. The report also covers the collaborative work and project review.

COMPETENCY
DEMONSTRATION REPORT
Career Episode 2

CE 2.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Install a Minimum Facilities Platform a.k.a MFP (IS-34C)
Location of the project: Idd El Shargi South Dome offshore Qatar
Project Duration: [PLEASE FILL]
Organization: TechnipFMC Doha
Role and Designation during the time: Structural Engineer
CE 2.2 Project Background
CE 2.2.1 Characteristics of the project
I was working in this project as Oxy was planning to install a Minimum Facilities
Platform (MFP (IS-34C) in the Idd El Shargi South Dome offshore Qatar. Oxy has already
established thirteen MFP's earlier and the MFP's have been the most cost-efficient solution with
a very quick turnaround time (less than a year from concept stage to final installation). Oxy
wanted to improve on this concept and wanted to use dual well conductors instead of single well
conductors. I was appointed as a structural engineer in IS-34C that was a pilot project for this
concept where it wanted to replace one of the four conductors with a dual well conductor. So,
this platform has three single well conductors and one dual well conductor as its piles. It was a
new concept (using dual well conductor as pile) that has never been attempted in the Middle East
region.

CE 2.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
Following were the set of objectives established for replacing one of the four conductors
with a dual well conductor:
 To analyze the existing scenarios with the configured conductors
 To replace one of the four conductors with a dual well conductor
 To investigate the feasibility of the loads on the foundation and reduce those
considering all the factors related to the existing piles and the conductors about to
be installed
 To deliver the project successfully
 To manage an efficient and effective communication among the team members.
CE 2.2.3 My area of work
I was appointed as the structural engineer and I had to install the dual well conductors
replacing the single well conductors those were already established. I replaced one of the four
conductors with a dual well conductor. I analyzed and penetrated the conductors during the
foundation of the MFP through the soil for a particular depth and form the pile-foundation of the
platform. Generally, the penetration depth of conductors alone was not sufficient to support the
platform. Firstly, I executed casing of the well (which was drilled and grouted) that goes beyond
the conductor penetration depth and takes the remaining load. I accomplished this project and the
MFP foundation in two stages. In the first stage, I drive the conductor to the desired depth
(driving beyond this would not be feasible either because of the presence of a rock layer or
because it causes fatigue damage to the conductors). After all the four conductors were driven, I

installed the topsides/deck on the top of these conductors. Then, a drill-bit goes through the
conductor and drills out the soil inside the conductor to the desired depth.
CE 2.2.4 Project Group
CE 2.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I was responsible for the total structure design of MFP and instalment within the existing
foundation of Oxy. I had to perform analysis before installing the conventional MFPs and make
sure that the new instalment was capable of handling the expected loads. I had to make sure that
there was not any issue or query on the site and all the operational activities go on smoothly. I
had to verify and approve the drawings related to the sites and make sure that the proposed
designs were efficient and effective for the delivery of the project. I considered all the constraints

associated with force, pressure, loads, strain, and others while suggesting and installing the
conductors.
CE 2.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 2.3.1 Comprehending the theory of the project
Oxy wanted to improve on this concept and wanted to use dual good conductors instead
of single good conductors. IS-34C was a pilot project for this concept where it tried to replace
one of the four conductors with a dual well conductor. So, this platform has three single well
conductors and one dual well conductor as its piles. Using dual good conductor as pile was a new
concept that has never been attempted before in the Middle East region. The conductors
penetrate through the soil for a particular depth and form the pile-foundation of the platform. I
managed the installation of every conductor in two stages. I performed the configuration analysis
of the existing pile foundations and the MFP foundation before executing the replacements. I
used the documentation and the spreadsheets for performing the foundation design keeping all
the above parameters in mind that has now forms the part of our TechnipFMC's "in-house
software".
CE 2.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I analysed the existing configuration of the dual well that was a 42" x 1.5" conductor
containing two nos of 18" x 0.5" casings. At the bottom of the conductor, there was a 42” x 2”
pile shoe used to facilitate driving. So, at the bottom of the conductor, the inner diameter of the
pile shoe = 42 – 2*2 = 38”. I identified that the borehole diameter below the conductor was also
38". This 38" has to hold two nos of 18" casings. So, the gap left was 38” – 2*18” = 2”. I

stopped one casing at the conductor penetration depth due to the inability of the drilling team,
and the other casing shall continue till the desired depth.
CE 2.3.3 Identified issues and their solutions
2.3.3.1 Issues
I identified that the strength of conductors was the major problem in this project. I
recognized fatigue damage calculations; the conductor could not be driven beyond 65m. So, the
rest of the load has to be taken by the 18" casing. Oxy has a stock of 80 ksi steel casings, and
they wanted to use them. Each casing was approximately 12m long and was connected through a
screw-type mechanism (not welded). These connectors were not as efficient as the casings
themselves. Their efficiency was 79%. I informed that these were the weak points and being
overstressed. Moving forward, I found that in this configuration was that there was no enough
annulus gap (to fill the grout) between the borehole and the casing. API RP-2A recommends
having at least 3" annulus spacing between the pile and borehole. With this arrangement, the
maximum annulus that could be attained in an ideal situation was only 2". In the worst case, the
casing could be touching the wall of the borehole, i.e. no gap at all.
2.3.3.2 Solutions
I performed a study to see the feasibility of reducing loads on the foundation. Since the
wave loads were significantly contributing to the pile loads, I tried to reduce them. Instead of
calculating the Dynamic amplification factor of the waves based on the time periods of waves
and platform, I performed a wave response analysis to determine the actual Dynamic forces. It
helped in reducing the loads to some extent and coping with the issue related to the strength of
the conductor. After that, I proposed the idea of using high-grade steel (125 ksi) for the
connectors. So, with the efficiency of 79%, their actual strength was 125* 0.79 = 98.75 ksi. So,

they were as strong as (in fact, stronger than) the casings. I dealt with the second situation
through deriving a logical conclusion saying that the portion of the casing which has more than
3" gap with the borehole was effective in transferring the loads. So, instead of the entire
perimeter, 64% of the perimeter which has an annulus gap of more than 3” was considered valid
(See the figure at the end). Calculations were performed based on this which led to an increase in
the borehole depth. Oxy was initially skeptical about this idea. So, they sent this concept for a
third-party review to a Geotechnical specialist. I was allowed to proceed with the proposed
strategy for overcoming the configuration and gap related issue.
CE 2.3.4 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
I installed the first casing in the borehole, and the annulus between the soil and casing as
well as the annulus between the conductor and casing was grouted. Some more casings were
later installed concentrically inside this casing too much deeper depths till they reach the oil/gas
reservoir. They do not form part of the structural foundation. I also proposed that the capacity of
foundation = Skin friction along the surface of the conductor + Skin friction along the surface of
the borehole underneath the conductor. End bearing was not considered for drilled and grouted
piles.
CE 2.3.5 Collaborative work
The project was accomplished through the contribution of every team members who were
associated with the project. I had to establish a better relationship and communication with all
the team members in a manner to listen and respond to their queries. I set a regular outing with
some of the critical stakeholders under and with me in a way to establish a relationship that can
alternatively improve the health of the operations being accomplished throughout the project. I

made a robust and vital decision while analysing the designs and the models and managed to
bring out the best activity of the different team members.
CE 2.4 Project Review
CE 2.4.1 Project Overview and Contribution
Owing to the success of this, Oxy has scaled up this concept and now plans to install a
bigger version of this. They were calling it Conductor Support Platform. It will have eight dual-
well conductors and one single-well conductor at the center, effectively having 17 wells in a
single platform. Oxy has awarded this project to TechnipFMC, and we have completed the
engineering of this platform as well. I successfully developed the instalment. I used my personal
and professional attributes for analyzing the existing environment and proposing the best course
of actions.