Libondo Platform Engineering Project

Unmanned Wellhead Platform | Republic of Congo

The Libondo Platform (LB1) represents a significant offshore engineering achievement designed for TOTAL and constructed by ROSETTI MARINO. TECON provided comprehensive detailed design services for this critical oil and gas infrastructure project, encompassing the platform jacket, deck structures, and foundation piles. The project demonstrates advanced engineering capabilities in deep water offshore installations and integrated topside design.

Located in the challenging offshore environment of the Republic of Congo, the platform operates in 113.6 meters of water depth. The project required extensive analysis across multiple operational scenarios including in-service conditions, fatigue assessment, load-out procedures, lifting operations, transportation, and installation. TECON’s engineering team delivered complete structural solutions that met stringent safety and performance requirements for this unmanned production facility.

Project Scope

The Libondo Platform is an unmanned wellhead facility designed for maximum oil production capacity of 1,800 cubic meters per day and water injection capacity of 1,600 cubic meters per day. The facility features 10 wellhead slots to support comprehensive field development operations. The integrated design approach allowed for complete equipment installation onshore, optimizing construction efficiency and offshore installation procedures.

Jacket Structure Design

• Four-leg jacket configuration with overall dimensions of 12.0m x 12.0m at the top elevation and 36.0m x 36.0m at the mudline
• Six horizontal frame levels positioned at strategic elevations from mudline to above-water connection points
• Foundation system utilizing four 48-inch outer diameter piles driven through jacket legs with above-water welded connections
• Comprehensive structural analysis for in-service, fatigue, load-out, lifting, up-ending, on-bottom, and transport conditions
• Detailed fatigue assessment during transportation phases to ensure structural integrity
• Complete design of secondary structural systems including conductors, boat landings, and access platforms

Deck and Topside Facilities

• Integrated deck design with four main levels spaced vertically at 3.0-meter intervals
• Primary deck dimensions of 20.0m x 25.0m providing substantial working and equipment space
• Two specialized skidding beams engineered to support drilling rig operations
• Technical room housing critical control and monitoring systems
• Platform crane for material handling and maintenance operations
• Vent system for safe gas management and telecommunications mast for remote operations
• Structural design covering load-out, lifting, and transport scenarios with comprehensive fatigue analysis

Foundation Engineering

• Design and analysis of 48-inch diameter foundation piles for deep water installation
• Pile-through-leg configuration eliminating the need for annulus grouting
• Above-water welded connections ensuring structural continuity and load transfer
• Soil-structure interaction analysis for ultimate load capacity and cyclic loading conditions
• Drivability assessments to validate installation procedures and equipment requirements

Engineering Approach

TECON’s engineering methodology incorporated advanced finite element analysis techniques and compliance with international offshore standards. The design process integrated multiple load cases and environmental conditions specific to the West African offshore environment, including wave loading, current forces, wind effects, and seismic considerations. Close collaboration with the construction yard throughout the project ensured practical constructability while maintaining structural performance requirements.

The comprehensive scope included support for fabrication activities, quality control procedures, and ballasting operations during load-out. TECON’s engineering team provided ongoing technical support to resolve construction challenges and optimize installation procedures. This integrated approach resulted in successful platform delivery and installation within the challenging project timeline of 2008-2009.