Concrete Technology and Practice: Offshore Oil Platform Construction

This report details the concrete technology and practices involved in constructing an offshore oil platform designed to commence oil and gas production by 2020. It addresses the challenges and considerations for using high-performance concrete in such structures, including compressive strength, pumping ability, elastic modulus, shrinkage, creep, mass foundations, and heat of hydration. The report examines concrete mix designs suitable for the platform, considering factors like water/binder ratio, hydration temperature, and cement content to achieve a compressive strength of 80 MPa. It also discusses the precast manufacturing yard setup, the coordinated use of multiple pumps, and the grouting operation required to stabilize the platform, referencing the practical aspects of constructing, towing, and placing the units in position. The analysis incorporates real-world conditions and data, emphasizing the importance of curing methodologies, temperature control, and material selection to ensure the durability and functionality of the offshore concrete oil platform.

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CONSTRUCTION OF THE OFF-SHORE OIL PLATFORM
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ABSTRACT
A higher interest for elevated structures around the world, moderately ongoing advances in solid
innovation and improvements in development strategies has prompted an expanding number of
strengthened solid super tall structures being built. Exceptional consideration is required when
making utilization of cement in these structures. Stringent execution prerequisites, cautious plan
of blends required and various development contemplations that must be assessed. With an end
goal to better comprehend the utilization of cement in tall structures, explore these necessities
and contemplations was examined. A universal contextual investigation on the off-shore concrete
oil platform, the world's tallest building, was directed. Discoveries from the contextual
investigations identifying with compressive quality, pumping, functionality, congested confines,
parallel weight on formwork, flexible modulus, shrinkage, crawl, mass establishments and
warmth of hydration are exhibited and talked about. Reference is made to writing trying to give
major comprehension and understanding. Exceptional consideration is paid to pump, self-
compacting and elite cement (Mehta, 2013).
INTRODUCTION
Due to the population increase in the urban cities there is rise in the use of the fuel in these areas
thereby leading to the construction of the concrete platform that will contain the oil to serve the
eight million of the people by 2020.it is therefore a belief that by the year 2020 the concrete oil
platform would be completed in terms of the construction. Concrete with the high performance is
one of the important parts of the building that are tall. The construction reinforcement by the
concrete enables the progress of the construction by completing about 2 to 3 floor per week; this
is due to the existence of the strength and stiffness. During this construction, a number of factors
are required to be considered. This includes the required design of the mixes and considerations
of the construction thus a case study should be done on the self-compartment and other factors
like the pumping ability.
The approximation of the volume of self-compact high-performance concrete was estimated to
be 70,000m3. The variation of the strength was between 50MPa to 80MPa.the field displacement
at the taw was estimated to be 600000 tones and the pre-stressing cable were 400 tones (Vecchio,
2010).
METHODOLOGY
What is required and what should be considered.
The strength that is compressive
The colossal statue to which present-day tall structures are built instinctively brings about high
loads which must be conveyed by vertical load-bearing basic individuals, for example, segments,
center dividers and heaps. Keeping in mind the end goal to convey these heaps, without having

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segments and heaps of too much expansive cross-areas, high-quality cement (HSC) must be
utilized alongside vigorously fortified steel confines. This is apparent from the high qualities
required for the off-shore concrete oil platform.
For HSC concrete, the expanded pressing thickness accomplished because of a lower w/b
proportion and the utilization of super plasterers combined with high fineness extenders (FA and
CSF) brings about the lessened porosity of the bond glue and interfacial progress zone (ITZ).
This microstructure refinement gives the higher compressive quality yet renders the total as the
powerless connection regarding compressive quality with the disappointment plane in pressure
more often than not through the totals. Since the total turns into the basic segment, high caliber
and high-quality totals ought to be utilized (Baker, 2015).
Furthermore, to accomplish an adequately low w/b proportion a total with a low water necessity
ought to be utilized. The appropriateness of the total for pumping ought to likewise be
considered while picking a total to guarantee conservative pumping. The utilization of smashed
nearby dolomitic limestone for the off-shore concrete oil platform gave adequate quality, had a
low water prerequisite and turned out to be prudent for pumping (Chen, 2013).
The ability to pump
Without the capacity of cement to be pumped, it would not be a suitable development material as
extensive amounts of material should be lifted by cranes bringing about profoundly wasteful
development due to hindered throwing rates. Pumping concrete, particularly in tall building, can
bring about directing blockages because of total attachment, sweltering climate, throwing delays
and hazardous cement blends which can cause deferrals and end up being exorbitant. Therefore,
watchful blend plan, adequate trial blends and full-scale directing tests preceding development
and efficient on location checking of rheology and pipe weights is critical to limit the potential
for blockages (Orchard, 2016)
Directing cement for the off-shore concrete oil platform ended up being the most troublesome
solid outline issue. Cement to be pumped ought to have an adequately high fine total substance,
similar to the case for HSC. This builds the cohesiveness and lessens isolation of the blend which
diminishes the potential for total connect whereby the blended water to the solid is constrained
through in front of the blend. At the point when this happens, the course total particles interlock,
the inner rubbing increments, and the solid quits moving. It ought to anyway be noticed that a
fine total substance that is too high, making the blend be too much durable, will require
expanded drawing weights because of expanded contact between the solid and the inward
covering of the pipeline. The utilization of CSF at 10% substitution and fine total level of the
half of the solid blend for the off-shore concrete oil platform anticipated total attachment and in
the meantime caused the blend to be excessively durable (Neville, 2010).
Blockages because of the early setting of the solid in the pipeline can likewise be an issue
because of the period of time (can associate with 30 min) required to draw the solid to high

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elevations. On account of the off-shore concrete oil platform, this was exacerbated by the
sweltering summer climate experienced in the Dubai where temperatures can every so often
achieve 50°C thus a particularly composed super putting a mixture which gave satisfactory
impediment was important to guarantee adequate time for pumping of the solid before getting
started. The measurements of the a mixture must be changed for the distinctive periods of the
year as Dubai encounters moderately cool winters. The decision of course total for the solid
blend can affect the cost of pumping. Two critical properties of course totals that must be
considered while choosing a course total are the abrasiveness and greatest size. A grating total
can cause unnecessary wear on the coating of the pipeline, particularly at high pumping weights
required for tall structures, to such an extent that the life expectancy of the pipeline can be
diminished to around 10 000 m3. For the off-shore concrete oil platform, a pipeline life
expectancy of around 40 000m3 was accomplished by utilizing a less rough dolomitic limestone.
The greatest total size influences the span of the pipeline. By and large, the pipe width ought to
be no less than four times the greatest total size to decrease the potential for blockages. Be that as
it may, a bigger pipe width requires a more prominent weight head. A 150 mm distance across
pipeline was utilized for the off-shore concrete oil platform for the 20 mm total up to around a
stature of 350 m. At elevations higher than this, the total size was lessened, and in addition, the
pipe distance across diminished pumping weights (Ninet, 2013).
The diagram below shows the typical arrangement of the unit at the base of the oil platform.
Grouting at the base through injection method
Regularly, grouting is completed by driving funnels or drilling openings into the ground and
after that pumping the grout arrangement at high weight through embedded tubes. The degree of
grouting required for a specific zone is resolved through examination of ground conditions and
the figuring of a penetrating example. This considers the size, dispersing and profundity of the
openings required. The sort of grout and the specific ground conditions will impact the
dispersing of the openings. Site conditions will impact the instruments utilized for the drilling
procedure, yet pneumatic apparatuses, jewel bore or wash-drilling are the most widely
recognized. Alluvial soils are inclined to crumple thus gaps are generally cased. The weight of
the grout infusion is subject to soil conditions, and in-situ testing might be completed before the

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right weight is resolved. Weights for the most part extend from 1 N/mm2 for sands to 7 N/mm2
for shake.
Modulus that is elastic, ability to shrink and to creep
The utilization of littler vertical load-bearing part cross-areas in tall structures, influenced
conceivable by the utilization of HSC, implies that more noteworthy burdens must be conveyed
by cross-segments of decreased size. With a specific end goal to diminish the flexible shortening
of these individuals, a higher versatile modulus is required. This is clear in the C80 concrete
utilized for off-shore concrete oil platform which had a predetermined versatile modulus of
roughly 44 GPa. Cement to be pumped is frequently outlined with a diminished coarse total
substance to counteract blockages and lessen pipe wear which isn't helpful for acquiring a higher
versatile modulus. Another choice is the utilization of harder totals, anyway, these totals are
rougher thus increment pipe wear. Accomplishing an expanded flexible modulus thusly involves
a tradeoff between an adequately high versatile modulus and adequate pump ability. A dolomitic
limestone as coarse total for the off-shore concrete oil platform, which as a rule displays a high
versatile modulus with a generally low abrasiveness, was observed to be ideal as was utilized.
The lion's share of shrinkage of HSC is expected to autogenously shrinkage which happens
because of self-drying up. Together with the high hydration temperatures of HSC and high
surrounding temperatures of Dubai (up to 50°C), HSC can encounter extreme early-age splitting
(Shinn, 2014).
The figure below shows the main components of the 45m high concrete oil platform
To diminish the danger of splitting and guarantee the functionality and solidness necessities of
the solid are kept up, extraordinary consideration ought to be paid to curing and proper curing
methodology ought to be utilized. Broad curing tests on full-scale example were directed to

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decide ideal curing methodology. Showered on curing mixes were resolved to be the most
effective and handy curing strategy for the vertical individual (Browner, 2013).
Differential shortening of the vertical load-bearing individuals in the tall building because of
shrinkage and sneak can bring about expanded anxieties which ought to be represented in rebar
of vertical individuals that abbreviate less. Furthermore, differential limitation ought to be
limited to guarantee appropriate working and insignificant harm of lifts, pipelines, shade
dividers, and so on. The expectation of vertical shortening because of versatile, shrinkage and
crawl distortions ought to consequently be directed on the structure (Merrow, 2011).
Hydration heat and the foundation of the mass
The rate of warmth advancement of HSC is essentially more prominent than that of ordinary
quality cement anyway the aggregate warmth of hydration is brought down. Subsequently, vast
temperature slopes may create which can bring about early-age warm breaking, especially in
substantial individuals, for example, mass establishments. Full-scale testing to screen the solid
temperature was led for the off-shore concrete oil platform 3.7 m thick pontoon establishment
when outlining the solid blend (Suderow, 2015).
The solid for the pontoon establishment of the off-shore concrete oil platform had a trademark
3D square compressive quality of 50 MPa from a blend containing 40% FA and a w/b proportion
of 0.34. The high substitution of FA decreased the warmth of hydration because of it’s to some
degree idle pozzolanic response. No CSF was utilized as a part of the blend as it is exceedingly
receptive because of its high fineness and subsequently would build the rate of warmth
development.
Because of the outrageous surrounding temperatures experienced in Dubai, the danger of warm
splitting is significantly higher. Keeping in mind the end goal to lessen concrete setting
temperatures in the mid-year months, the larger part of throwing was finished amid the night,
when the temperature was generally lower. Furthermore, fitting water curing and halfway
supplanting of the blended water with chipped ice was utilized to bring down the warmth of solid
temperature (Davies, 2014).
The figure below shows the finished view of the oil platform

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CONCLUSION
It is obvious from the various execution prerequisites, blend plan and development
contemplations for the solid utilized on the off-shore concrete oil platform that extraordinary
consideration is required when making utilization of cement in this tall structures. To reduce the
danger of splitting and put in place the functionality and solidness necessities of the solid are
kept up, extraordinary consideration ought to be paid to curing and proper curing methodology
ought to be utilized. Broad curing tests on full-scale example were directed to decide ideal curing
methodology. Showered on curing mixes were resolved to be the most effective and handy
curing strategy for the vertical individual. This approximation of the volume of self-compact
high-performance concrete that is estimated to be 70,000m3 with the variation of the strength
between 50MPa to 80MPa makes the structure stronger when combined with the field
displacement at the taw that is estimated at 600000 tones with the pre-stressing cable of 400
tones.
The key necessities and contemplations seen from the off-shore concrete oil platform are as
follows;
 High compressive qualities are required to decrease vertical load-bearing part cross-
segments and along these lines, the course total utilized should be of a high-quality and
excellent so it doesn't restrict the compressive quality. Furthermore, it ought to have a
low water prerequisite and ought to be sparing for pumping
 Pump ability of the solid is basic to make RC development practical, however, can be
troublesome when pumping to high heights. Adequately high fine total substances are
basic to expand union and decrease isolation. In any case, a fine total substance that is too
high will bring about an excessively strong blend which will be hard to pump. For

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temperate pumping, coarse totals ought not to be grating and too substantial. Pumping
can essentially change the rheology of the solid which must be represented in the blended
plan (Malhotra, 2012).
 Workability for sufficient course through congested rebar confines is to a great extent
met by the necessities for pumping of the solid. The adjustment in rheology in the wake
of pumping ought to anyway be represented. The utilization of basically self-compacting
pump solid outcomes in parallel weight on formwork thus formwork ought to be
adequately solid.
 The decreased cross-areas of vertical load-bearing individuals with higher burdens bring
about the requirement for a higher flex modulus. Accomplishing a higher versatile
modulus brings about an exchange off with practical pump ability prerequisites where
lessened total substance and milder, less grating totals are utilized. High early-age
shrinkage strains, which may cause breaking, can create if HSC concrete isn't properly
cured. Differential shortening of vertical load-bearing individuals because of shrinkage
and crawl ought to be anticipated to guarantee suitable working of vertical
administrations, for example, lifts and pipelines (Gambhir, 2013).
 High rates of warmth advancement related with HSC can bring about huge temperature
inclinations prompting early warm splitting, particularly in expansive individuals. The
utilization of a high FA substitution can help in lessening the warmth of hydration. The
utilization of CSF isn't suggested. On account of outrageous surrounding temperatures,
throwing ought to be directed around evening time when the temperature is cooler. Also,
water curing and an incomplete swap of chipped ice for blend water can decrease solid
temperatures (French, 2016).
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