SPAR platforms are floating structures used for offshore oil and gas production and drilling. There are currently 17 SPAR platforms in operation, with 3 classic cylindrical hull designs, 13 truss designs, and 1 cell design. SPARs are commonly used in ultra-deep waters for drilling, storage, production, and as unmanned buoys. The designs have evolved over time from classic cylindrical hulls to truss and cell designs to improve functionality and reduce costs. SPAR platforms are cheaper than other offshore platform options in deep water and are easier to install and remove than platforms with permanent leg attachments.

1. SPAR PLATFORMS
Group 1

2. SPAR Applications
• Presently there are 17 SPARs in operation
▫ 3 Classic SPARs
▫ 13 Truss SPARs
▫ ONLY 1 Cell SPAR
• All except the Kikeh Truss SPAR , located off the
Malaysian coast, can be found in the Gulf of
Mexico
• SPAR platforms are used in ultra-deep waters

3. SPAR Applications
SPAR Platforms are commonly used in
deep water applications for:
▫ Drilling
 Mad Dog SPAR
▫ Storage
 Brent SPAR
▫ Production
• Neptune SPAR
▫ Unmanned
• Buoys

4. SPAR Projects
Company Platform Type Year Installed
Kerr-McGee Neptune Classic 1996
ChevronTexaco Genesis Classic 1998
ExxonMobil Hoover Diana Classic 2000
Kerr-McGee Nansen Truss 2001
Murphy Medusa Truss 2002
Kerr-McGee Boomvang Truss 2002
bp Horn Mountain Truss 2002
bp Holstein Truss 2003
Kerr-McGee Gunnison Truss 2004
bp Mad Dog Truss 2005

5. SPAR Projects

6. SPAR Design Considerations
• All SPAR platforms utilize strakes to reduce vortex induced motions
• Anodes are commonly found on SPAR hulls to reduce corrosion
• Different topside decks can be attached to SPARs depending on the
job. Some of these decks are:
▫ A full drilling rig (3,000hp)
▫ A workover rig (600-1,000hp)
▫ Production equipment
• The world’s first production SPAR was used in 1996
• Previously, SPARs had been used as oil
storage vessels (Brent project)

7. SPAR Design Considerations
There are 3 basic designs
•
for SPAR Platforms
1. Classic SPAR
2. Truss SPAR
3. Cell SPAR
The different SPAR
•
designs reflect industry
innovations
1. Each design is an
improvement on an older
model and offers improved
functionality at a reduced
cost

8. • The world’s first production
Classic SPAR, Neptune, was
installed in the Gulf of Mexico in
Classic SPAR Platform
1996
• Oryx Energy developed
Neptune, and was later acquired
by Kerr-McGee in 1999.
• The Classic SPAR hull is
basically a cylinder
• This cylinder is separated into
three main sections:
1. Upper section
Compartmentalized and filled
•
with air to provide the buoyancy
2. Centerwell
Flooded with seawater
•
3. Keel section (“Soft Tank”)
Compartmentalized to aid in
•
transportation . Also contains
any field-installed ballast.

9. Genesis SPAR
•Genesis was the second Classic SPAR
ever built
•Classic SPARs have 4 major
components: a hull, a mooring
system, risers, and topside decks.
• SPAR designs are inherently
stable due to their deep draft hulls.
•Dry Tree technology can be
utilized on a SPAR platform.
•SPAR platforms tend to be 30%
cheaper than other options in deep
water.

10. • Truss Platforms were introduced by Kerr-
McGee in 2001 when the Nansen was
installed in the Gulf of Mexico
Truss SPAR Platform
• The Truss SPAR design has 3 main
components:
1. Hard Tank
Provides most of the in-place buoyancy for
•
the SPAR.
1. Truss Section
Supports the heave plates and provides
•
separation between the keel tank and hard
tank.
1. Keel Tank (“Soft Tank”)
Contains the fixed ballast and acts as a
•
natural hang-off location for export pipelines
and flowlines .

11. Perdido SPAR
•Shell’s most recent Truss SPAR broke the
deepwater record and will be operational in 2010.
•Truss SPARs are characterized by the tubular
members that provide a connection between
the hard tank and the keel.
•The truss system also support to the heave
plates which reduce improve stability
by reducing heave.

12. • The Cell SPAR was also designed by Kerr-McGee
in the Red Hawk project
Cell SPAR Platform
• Red Hawk was installed in the Gulf of Mexico and
made operational in 2004
• Cell SPARs have several design features
including:
The Hard Tank is made up of 6 cylindrical tubes that
•
surround a seventh central tube.
Each of these tubes is 20 ft in diameter and contain
•
variable-ballast tanks and redundant, independent cells
The middle hull section is an extension of three of the seven
•
cylindrical tubes, and serves as a rigid connection between
the hard tank and the keel tank.
The lower section, or keel, contains the permanent ballast
•

13. Red Hawk SPAR
•First and only Cell SPAR
•The separate tubes
are connected by heave
plates
•Heave plates give the
structure added
stability by reducing
the force transferred
from ocean waves
and current.

14. SPAR Economics
Classic SPARs
▫ The US does not have a facility large enough to construct SPAR hulls.
Therefore, almost all SPAR hulls have been manufactured overseas ,
typically in Finland, and then transported to the US, which increases the
cost of the project.
Truss SPARs
▫ The hull of a truss SPAR is smaller, reducing
both material cost and the cost of transportation.
Also for some truss SPARs, the actual truss
system can be made in the US and then mated
with the hard tank when it arrives.
Cell SPARs
▫ Because of the reduced size of the cylinders,
fabrication of cell SPARs can take place in the US,
meaning that there is no transportation cost.

15. SPAR Economics
• SPAR designs are the most economical for ultra-
deep water.
• By utilizing a mooring system instead of
permanent legs, SPAR platforms reduce materials
cost and can be moved to different wells.
• Oryx spent $300 million on
Neptune, the world’s first
production SPAR platform.
• Neptune was estimated to
save Oryx and it’s 50/50
partner $90 million.

16. SPAR Construction
•Later the two completed halves are
brought together
•The Hard Tank of a Truss
SPAR is constructed in
halves
•Then the two halves are
joined to form the top of the
Truss SPAR’s Hard Tank

17. SPAR Construction
• The SPAR hull •The hull is joined and towed
is shipped in out to the well location.
sections that will
later be mated
together.
•The SPAR hull is then flooded with
seawater and up-ended. Once in
place, the hull is connected to the •The topsides are then
already installed mooring system. attached to the SPAR hull.

18. SPAR construction timeline:
Perdido
•http://www.shell.us/home/content/usa/aboutshell/strategy/major_projects/perdido/tracking/tracking_project_ncb07.html

19. References
•“Industry Projects.” Offshore Technology. 2009. 21 Apr. 2009 <http://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/>.
• “Offshore: ABS to Class Cell Spar for Kerr-McGee.” Marine Link. 2 Apr. 2003. 19 Apr. 2009
<http://www.marinelink.com/Story/Offshore:+ABS+to+Class+Cell+Spar+for+Kerr-McGee-11137.html>.
•quot;Perdido Development Project.quot; Shell. 5 Sept. 2008. Shell oil. 20 Apr. 2009
<http://www.shell.us/home/content/usa/aboutshell/strategy/major_projects/perdido/tracking/tracking_project_ncb07.html>.
•“SparTEC.” FloaTEC. 2009. 20 Apr. 2009 <http://www.floatec.com/spar.htm>.
•Ultramarine, Inc. Welcome to Ultramarine. 1996. 24 Apr. 2009 <http://www.ultramarine.com>.