New Jack-Up Drill Rig Extends Their Range Into 375-Ft Water Depth

Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1976, Vol. 46, Issue 4, Pg. 53-54


Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

A new design of jack-up drill now building for the Gulf of Mexico extends from 250 ft to 375 ft, the depth of water in which they operate. Until now what limited their depth was their stability in the leg-up (towing) position. With the tall legs extended to high overhead, there was danger of them tipping over in high seas. Bethlehem Steel broke this 250-ft barrier by designing two-piece, telescoping legs. Foundation of Bethlehem's jack-ups is a big A-shaped mat built of cellular construction like a barge, that is sized to resist overturning forces of wind and waves of hurricane force while standing on very weak soils. The 350-ft operating depth of the new rig was carefully chosen�� of continental shelf areas around the world that are in water less than 600 ft deep, some 90% is in water less than 350 ft deep.



Subject Headings: Jacking | Offshore platforms | Building design | Wind waves | Wind forces | Wave forces | Steel

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