Outreach develops offshore platforms

The OSB250 platforms are designed for two main applications; to provide personnel access when joining two lengths of drill pipe, and to provide more general access for maintenance and inspection purposes. The platforms are described as semipermanent, but can be retrofitted to existing installations.

Wilson Paton, chairman and managing director of Outreach, based in Falkirk, Scotland, told AI that the OSB platforms offer considerable advantages over scaffolding -removing the need to transport men and materials offshore - and also over standard powered platforms whose mobility is often inappropriate for offshore environments.

Five OSB250 units had already been supplied - two on fixed platforms in the North Sea and three on floating platforms - and orders have also been received for a larger platform currently under development.

The telescopic OSB250 has an 800 kg cage capacity and maximum working height of 15 m and outreach of 12 m. The platforms are being sold by Outreach and through a non-exclusive agreement with Patriot Material Handling, a US subsidiary of UK company Global Marine Energy.