Channel Requirements for Offshore Petroleum Exploration

Offshore petroleum exploration and production is a relatively young and rapidly growing industry which has impacted and benefited ports worldwide. This industry operates much differently than maritime trade and has specific channel requirements to operate efficiently. This presentation describes the channel requirements to serve offshore platform fabrication and the channel requirements for servicing offshore supply vessels. The combination of channel requirements and infrastructure needs can be used to determine the best port configuration for ports near offshore petroleum exploration sites. Offshore platform fabrication requires deep and wide channels to move large platforms. Offshore supply vessels do not need the deep and wide channels that offshore platform fabrication does, but they require reliable channel access because they make frequent trips with short loading cycles. Offshore petroleum exploration ports also require a significant landside infrastructure to provide water, fuel, drilling mud, deck equipment, and supplies to offshore platforms.