An offshore platform is a harder installation than a ship in one specific way: maintenance visits are expensive and infrequent, so the equipment has to be built for a longer interval between interventions.
What makes offshore different
- Atmosphere. Continuous salt spray and high humidity, with no shelter. Corrosion protection is specified rather than assumed.
- Vibration. Drilling, compression and pumping machinery run continuously and load the structure throughout.
- Hazardous areas. Where hydrocarbons are present, equipment certification has to match the zone classification of the space it sits in.
- Access. A maintenance visit may involve a helicopter or a vessel. Designs lean towards arrangements that need less frequent attention.
- Weight and footprint. Deck space and structural loading are both constrained, which pushes back on the additional steel that corrosion allowance and enclosure ratings add.
Types used offshore
- Dry type and cast resin transformers are the common choice for the same reason as on board: no oil means no fire load and no containment requirement. Cast resin additionally seals the windings against salt air.
- Isolation transformers where galvanic separation is required between systems.
- Step-up transformers for power export from offshore wind substations, which is a different duty from platform distribution and is specified separately.
- Special purpose units for drilling drives and similar loads.
Where they are used on a platform
- Main power distribution and switchboard supplies.
- Drilling equipment and top drive supplies.
- Production and process equipment.
- Compression and pumping systems.
- HVAC and ventilation.
- Communication and navigation equipment.
- Accommodation and living quarters.
- Cranes and material handling.
- Export supply from offshore wind substations.
Maintenance interval is a design input
On shore, a problem can be attended to in a day. Offshore, it may wait weeks. That changes what is worth specifying: heavier corrosion allowance, sealed enclosures, corrosion-resistant fixings, and monitoring that can be read remotely rather than requiring a visit. The temperature monitoring and insulation resistance checks that would be routine on shore become the main early-warning tools when access is limited.
If you are specifying for an offshore installation, send the zone classification, the ambient conditions and the space available alongside the electrical ratings. See the offshore transformer range, or contact us.
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