Deepwater XLP Technology, LLC has developed a novel concept intended to simplify fabrication of a deepwater floating drilling and production unit. The X-Leg Platform (XLP) hull is designed to have low heave motions similar to a spar or deep draft semi to enable top tensioned risers supported by long stroke tensioners. Fabrication & installation are simplified by:
    a) Use of ring-stiffened cylinders without longitudinal stiffeners as buoyant members which are structurally efficient and easy to fabricate.
    b) Use of a barge‐structure for the deck which allows “ground level” fabrication and integration of modules on top of the deck.
    c) Elimination of heavy deck lifts and extensive hookup & commissioning work offshore .

The leg assembly of the XLP can be built by almost any offshore jacket fabrication yard in the world and thus maximize LOCAL CONTENT.

 

The XLP has far more deck area than other dry tree floater designs and is able to leave and return to a very shallow water port (20ft WD) with a full deck load.  The XLP concept will allow standardized designs to be leased to drill and  produce deepwater and ultra-deepwater fields faster and more economically.  The XLP will cut a minimum of one year off of the time from project santion to first production which will increase the NPV of a project involving a field with 100 million bbl of recoverable oil by $250-$750 million for oil @ $50-$150 per barrel. 

 

Technical administrations relative to this website will be provided for by the Global Petroleum Research Institute (GPRI). http://www.gpri.org

The first attachment below includes illustrations of the XLP and examples of how it can be used.