Major challenges in platform design for the Russian continental shelf

There are fascinating economical and technical challenges facing field developers in the Russian continental shelf. As far as production platforms and offshore terminal structures are concerned one has to find out how to build them so that attractive investment economics can be achieved. Controlling project risks and reducing key uncertainties are found to have significance in this respect. Different ice resistant offshore structures and their construction methods are illustrated in this paper. The cost structure and technical features of the production platform types are also discussed with special attention given to the Russian construction facilities and equipment. Extreme ice loads and ice induced vibrations still remain areas of some uncertainty in offshore platforms. An approach to solve complicated interaction cases involving extreme first year ridges and hummock fields is outlined. Means to control ice loads and vibrations are discussed.