The Hibernia Development Project

• Main Author: ZHANG, QIONG
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2013
• Subjects: Canada; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://journals.library.mun.ca/index.php/prototype/article/view/420

The Hibernia platform in Grand Banks, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) is recognized as the world’s largest platform, and owns the most productive oil wells in Canada. However, because of the surge, icebergs, storms, and heavy fogs in that sea area, the Hibernia platform needs to be designed to adapt to the harsh weather. The discovery of the oil field in Grand Banks can be traced back to 1878, when the first geotechnical report for that area was published. Multiple oil companies were involved in the development of the Hibernia oilfield after the discovery. The Hibernia development project was operated by the Hibernia Management and Development Company (HMDC), which formed in December 21, 1988. The construction of the Hibernia platform started in 1990. Considering the environmental circumstance, the final platform consists of Topsides, Gravity Base Structure (GBS) and Offshore Loading System (OLS). Four departments included shore-base facility, heliport facility, warehouse facility and transhipment terminal work together and maintain the operation of the platform. This article will briefly introduce the Hibernia development project. In addition, it will give a discussion about the Hibernia platform design methods, the environmental impact, and lessons learned from its successes and failures.