Condeep�In 400 Ft of Water, Concrete Caisson Requires No Piles

Gerwick, Ben C.; ,

Condeep�In 400 Ft of Water, Concrete Caisson Requires No Piles

by Ben C. Gerwick, Jr., (F.ASCE), Consulting Engr.; San Francisco, Calif.,

Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1976, Vol. 46, Issue 4, Pg. 54-56

Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

The Condeep structure consists of (1) 19 cylindrical tanks each 66-ft diam and 164-ft high that together will store up to 900,000 bbl of oil; (2) the extension upward 300-ft more of three of these cylindrical tanks; and (3) atop the three towers a steel platform that holds the oil production equipment and weighs in all 25,000 tons. The Condeep is constructed in a fjord (ideal for the purpose because of its deep but protected waters), then towed to its mid-North Sea site. The steel platforms on top have been constructed in two different ways; (a) prefabricated of modules up to 2,000 tons each, and (b) prefabricated as one. The latter approach meant the platform was too heavy to be derrick-lifted to the top of Condeep's three towers. The big platform was assembled atop two abandoned tankers. Then the entire Condeep was ballasted down so very little of it projected above water, the big platform and two tankers were towed into position over the three towers, and Condeep was de-ballasted until it lifted the 25,000-ton platform high out of the water.

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