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WORKING PLATFORMES

OFFSHORE PLATFORMS There are many variables to take into account when dealing with offshore platforms. This environment calls for special compensations for tides, waves, wind, currents, self generated power sources, transportation needs, product movement, high pressures as in addition to the more common work site needs for men and materials. This work environment can be like working on another planet, where every contingency needs to be reasoned and prepared for.

www.fossil.energy.gov/oil_gas/environ_rpt 5 explor.pdf

WELL PUMPS The original well pumps used in the infancy of oil production resembled this. A great number of these are still in operation today. The physics of these pumps is intriguing. By using the kinetic and potential energy of the counterweight and some mechanical advantage, this is a very efficient and simple piece of equipment. Since the 1850's, when oil was discovered as an energy source, technology has improved tremendously, but equipment like this is still used for shallow recovery operations.

www.fossil.energy.gov/oil_gas/environ_rpt/7 prod.pdf

SHORE BASED RIGS For most land based rigs, such as this, major concerns are protecting the environment from spills, moving the equipment, producing needed power, operating safely under harsh weather conditions and security. The adverse conditions and remote locations create a difficult set of parameters to operate under. In the North Slope of Alaska, for example, the operating conditions are extreme cold, permafrost and ice, high winds and remote locations. The demands of this environment make equipment needs unique. The ability to move large amounts and sizes of equipment places great demand on the crew and utilizes many aspects of physics such as torque, mechanical advantage, kinetic and potential energy,and much more.

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DRILL / PIPELINE SHIPS For most ship based activities, there is a need for flexibility. The ability to move around is not always advantageous. There is a great deal of study devoted to the mooring of floating equipment, the characteristics of pipe materials used, depths, volumes and pressure all contribute to a quite complicated equation for success. Fortunately,science has the means to solve these monumental problems. The physics involved with ship based operations focus on the ability for machinery and materials to be flexible,withstand tremendous forces acting against them and overcoming the disadvantages of depth and limited capacity and a corrosive environment.

www.offshore-technology.com/projects/brutus/brutus3.html