Thunder Horse PDQ
Encyclopedia
Thunder Horse PDQ is a BP plc
and ExxonMobil
joint venture semi-submersible
oil platform
on location over the Mississippi Canyon
Thunder Horse oil field (Block 778/822), in deepwater Gulf of Mexico
, 150 miles (241.4 km) southeast of New Orleans, moored in waters of 1840 metres (6,036.7 ft). The "PDQ" identifies the platform as being a production
drill
ing facility with crew quarters
.
Thunder Horse PDQ is the largest offshore installation of its kind in the world. The vessel's hull was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
(DSME) in Okpo
, South Korea
, then loaded aboard the heavy lift ship
, and transported to Kiewit Offshore Services in Ingleside, Texas
where it was integrated with its topsides modules that were built in Morgan City, Louisiana
. The 15813 nautical miles (29,285.7 km) journey around the Cape of Good Hope
took eight weeks (63 days) from 23 July to 23 September 2004. Construction costs were around US$5 billion, and the platform is expected to operate for 25 years.
in July 2005. After the hurricane passed, the platform fell into a 20 degree list and was in danger of foundering.
The platform was designed for a 100 year event, and inspection teams found no hull damage, and no water was taken on from a leak through its hull. Rather, an incorrectly plumbed 6-inch length of pipe allowed water to flow freely among several ballast tank
s that set forth a chain of events causing the platform to tip into the water. The platform was fully righted about a week after Dennis, delaying commercial production initially scheduled for late 2005. During repairs, it was discovered that the underwater manifold was severely cracked due to poorly welded pipes. The rig's design engineer, Gordon Aaker, said that the cracked manifold could have caused a catastrophic oil spill.
The platform took a nearly direct hit six weeks later from Hurricane Katrina
, but was undamaged.
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
and ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
joint venture semi-submersible
Semi-submersible
A semi-submersible is a specialised marine vessel with good stability and seakeeping characteristics. The semi-submersible vessel design is commonly used in a number of specific offshore roles such as for offshore drilling rigs, safety vessels, oil production platforms and heavy lift cranes.The...
oil platform
Oil platform
An oil platform, also referred to as an offshore platform or, somewhat incorrectly, oil rig, is a lаrge structure with facilities to drill wells, to extract and process oil and natural gas, and to temporarily store product until it can be brought to shore for refining and marketing...
on location over the Mississippi Canyon
Mississippi Canyon
The Mississippi Canyon is an undersea canyon in the Central Gulf of Mexico, south of Louisiana. According to the U.S. Geological Survey GLORIA Mapping Program, it is the dominant feature of the north-central Gulf of Mexico. According to GCAGS Transactions, it has an average width of , and a length...
Thunder Horse oil field (Block 778/822), in deepwater Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, 150 miles (241.4 km) southeast of New Orleans, moored in waters of 1840 metres (6,036.7 ft). The "PDQ" identifies the platform as being a production
Oil platform
An oil platform, also referred to as an offshore platform or, somewhat incorrectly, oil rig, is a lаrge structure with facilities to drill wells, to extract and process oil and natural gas, and to temporarily store product until it can be brought to shore for refining and marketing...
drill
Drill
A drill or drill motor is a tool fitted with a cutting tool attachment or driving tool attachment, usually a drill bit or driver bit, used for drilling holes in various materials or fastening various materials together with the use of fasteners. The attachment is gripped by a chuck at one end of...
ing facility with crew quarters
Cabin (ship)
A cabin or berthing is an enclosed space generally on a ship or an aircraft. A cabin which protrudes above the level of a ship's deck may be referred to as a "deckhouse."-Sailing ships:...
.
Thunder Horse PDQ is the largest offshore installation of its kind in the world. The vessel's hull was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd ' is the second largest shipbuilder in the world and one of the "Big Three" shipbuilders of South Korea.On 21 February 2011, the A. P...
(DSME) in Okpo
Okpo
Okpo-dong is dong of the city of Geoje in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The village is located on the eastern coast of Geoje Island and a center of the island....
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, then loaded aboard the heavy lift ship
Heavy lift ship
A heavy lift ship is a vessel designed to move very large loads that cannot be handled by normally equipped ships. They are of two types: semi-submerging capable of lifting another ship out of the water and transporting it; and vessels that augment unloading facilities at inadequately equipped...
, and transported to Kiewit Offshore Services in Ingleside, Texas
Ingleside, Texas
Ingleside is a town in Nueces and San Patricio Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 9,388 at the 2000 census.Ingleside is also home to Naval Station Ingleside. On August 24, 2005, the BRAC Committee voted to close the base. In 2010, the main base property was turned over to the...
where it was integrated with its topsides modules that were built in Morgan City, Louisiana
Morgan City, Louisiana
Morgan City is a city in St. Martin and St. Mary parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 12,404 at the 2010 census....
. The 15813 nautical miles (29,285.7 km) journey around the Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
took eight weeks (63 days) from 23 July to 23 September 2004. Construction costs were around US$5 billion, and the platform is expected to operate for 25 years.
Hurricane Dennis
Thunder Horse PDQ was evacuated with the approach of Hurricane DennisHurricane Dennis
Hurricane Dennis was an early-forming major hurricane in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico during the very active 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Dennis was the fourth named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the season...
in July 2005. After the hurricane passed, the platform fell into a 20 degree list and was in danger of foundering.
The platform was designed for a 100 year event, and inspection teams found no hull damage, and no water was taken on from a leak through its hull. Rather, an incorrectly plumbed 6-inch length of pipe allowed water to flow freely among several ballast tank
Ballast tank
A ballast tank is a compartment within a boat, ship or other floating structure that holds water.-History:The basic concept behind the ballast tank can be seen in many forms of aquatic life, such as the blowfish or argonaut octopus, and the concept has been invented and reinvented many times by...
s that set forth a chain of events causing the platform to tip into the water. The platform was fully righted about a week after Dennis, delaying commercial production initially scheduled for late 2005. During repairs, it was discovered that the underwater manifold was severely cracked due to poorly welded pipes. The rig's design engineer, Gordon Aaker, said that the cracked manifold could have caused a catastrophic oil spill.
The platform took a nearly direct hit six weeks later from Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, but was undamaged.
External links
- Thunder Horse Project images, maps and diagrams at SubSeaIQ
- Thunder Horse BP's deepwater drilling platform