The growth of offshore oil exploration in India has been very rapid over the last decade. There are at present about 90 offshore platforms In the Bombay High region. Because of the tremendous economic importance of offshore oil and gas, there has been a lot of devotion In India towards the development of indigenous technology for offshore oil exploration. Structural Engineering Research Centre, Madras, India, is engaged in research and development activities relating to fatigue behaviour of steel offshore structures. Theoretical and experimental investigations are conducted on unstiffened and stiffened steel tubular joints to assess stress concentration and static strength, and study the effect of internal ring stiffeners. The results of the theoretical and experimental studies are discussed In this paper.
The growth of offshore oil exploration In India has been very rapid over the last decade. The offshore areas of India, measuring 38,000 sq km up to 200 m water depth, came Into focus during the year 1974. The offshore oil production In India, till now, has been in the Bombay High region In the western offshore area[1, B]. As of date, 67 percent of the 011 and gas reserves of India are located offshore. The demand for oil In India In 1987 was 50 million tonnes. The Indigenous production was 30 million tonnes, out of Which 27.2 million tonnes came from offshore. There are at present about 90 offshore platforms In the Bombay High region. All these platforms are of the Jacket type, comprising welded steel tubular members. The western offshore hydrocarbon bearing areas under development In India are within 200 m water depth of the shelf area of the Arabian Sea. The area experiences difficult weather conditions during the annual monsoon period due to high speed winds and heavy rains.
