An Integrated Approach to Offshore Platform, Riser, and Pipeline Design
Published: 10/28/2025
An Integrated Approach to Offshore Platform, Riser, and Pipeline Design
Published: 10/28/2025
Offshore platforms are essential for oil and gas extraction in challenging marine environments, enabling production from deep water and harsh conditions. Their design must ensure long-term safety, stability, and operational efficiency, accounting for severe environmental loads and adhering to industry standards. The design process involves integrating critical elements, such as mooring systems, risers, and pipelines, all of which must work together to optimize platform stability and operational performance in these demanding conditions. Building on the design process, this paper introduces a novel workflow that integrates the optimization of platform placement, optimized riser base placement, riser design, and pipeline routing while honoring clearance and prohibited area constraints. The methodology includes a bathymetry map, wellheads or manifold locations, and design parameters as input. It involves defining prohibited areas around the platform due to mooring and riser-dedicated regions, optimizing riser locations within accessible corridors, and efficiently layering pipeline routes. Riser design relies on geometric parameters and incorporates physical principles to ensure a realistic design and includes two riser types: catenary and lazy wave.
The workflow was tested on two cases: one case with three manifolds downstream to the platform and a more complex case with eight manifolds. Results show the workflow’s ability to correctly design risers, efficiently route pipelines by establishing an order of connection, and handle varying complexities. Sensitivity analysis revealed that higher bathymetry map resolutions improved pipeline routing accuracy but increased computational time, emphasizing the balance between precision and efficiency. The proposed approach streamlines offshore field planning by automating complex layout decisions, ultimately enhancing design efficiency and project feasibility. It supports informed decision-making early in the design process, potentially reducing costs and development time.