New central processing platform for Bohai offshore oilfield installed

The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced Sunday the successful float-over installation of the central processing platform for Phase I of the Kenli 10-2 oilfield cluster, a billion-ton-grade project in the Bohai Bay. The project set new regional records in terms of both size and weight of offshore platforms, bolstering production capacity at China's largest crude oil production base.

The Kenli 10-2 central processing platform is an eight-legged, three-tiered offshore structure standing 22.8 meters tall with a footprint equivalent to 15 standard basketball courts. Weighing over 20,000 metric tons, it is the largest and heaviest platform ever installed in the Bohai Bay.

Conventional cranes could not handle the platform's massive weight, so engineers opted for a float-over installation -- a technique akin to an Olympic weightlifter's "clean and jerk." The method leverages tidal forces to precisely lower the platform onto pre-installed jacket legs in the sea.

Shen Liang, project manager of the Kenli 10-2 Oilfield, highlighted the use of digital twin technology for 3D modeling and simulation to refine the installation plan.

"The project team employed digital twin technology for 3D modeling and computational analysis, repeatedly optimizing the construction plan through simulation rehearsals. We equipped the main installation vessel, Haiyang Shiyou 228, with three Beidou positioning systems integrated with AI algorithms, while coordinating multiple tugboats to achieve precision installation at one go," he said.

The installation pushed engineering limits to unprecedented levels. The massive 20,000-ton platform caused the installation vessel to sit 12 meters deep in the water, while maintaining a perilously narrow 1.7-meter clearance between the ship's hull and underwater structures. In what engineers described as a maneuver comparable to docking a spacecraft with a space station in rough seas, the 200-meter-long vessel had to navigate through gaps of just 10 centimeters between the jacket legs -- a testament to the extraordinary precision required for this operation.

"We meticulously monitored sea conditions and installed multiple millimeter-grade anti-collision radars on the construction vessel. By applying self-developed new fender systems and pile-leg coupling buffers, we successfully controlled the docking precision between all eight pile tips and legs within five millimeters," said Ma Jinxiong, installation manager for the project.

New central processing platform for Bohai offshore oilfield installed

U.S. economic activity rose slightly in most districts, with three regions reporting no changes and one region experiencing a moderate decline, the U.S. Federal Reserve said in its Beige Book released on Thursday.

This indicates an improvement compared to the last three reporting periods, during which most regions reported little change in economic activity, according to the Beige Book.

It shows that the outlook for future activity is mildly optimistic, with most expecting slight to modest growth in the coming months.

Most banks reported that the consumer spending went up slightly over the holiday season, buoyed by strong spending from higher-income consumers. Employment was mostly unchanged in the most recent period, with eight of the twelve districts reporting no changes in hiring. Prices grew at a moderate rate across a large majority of districts, with only two districts reporting slight price growth, the survey said.

Cost pressures resulting from tariffs were a consistent theme across all districts, it said.

The Beige Book, officially known as the Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions by Federal Reserve District, is a survey on economic conditions based on information collected from its 12 regional reserve banks. It is published eight times per year.

US economic activity shows moderate growth amid inflation pressure: Fed Beige Book