Research Activities at KEPCO

Since KEPCO is the sole company experienced in deepwater exploration and drilling, it is necessary to keep up with new technologies and advancements in the field of deepwater technology.

Among the research topics that are currently carried out in collaboration with universities and research institutes to confront the new operational challenges,are:

1-"Optimal design of floating platforms (drilling / production / maintenance), options of oil transportation pipelines in Caspian Sea and determination of coastal facilities to transport hydrocarbon production."

Research centers: Petroleum University of Technology and Sahand University of Technology .

Kepco, as the only national company involved with hydrocarbon operations in caspian sea, has great resposibilities to perform the given tasks. This may include manufacturing, supply and maintenance, offshore instalations and facilities, hydrocarbon transportation, environmental protection with respect to oil pollution activities and HSE related topics.

2-"Comprehensive Plan for the Prevention and removal of oil contamination in the Caspian Sea ."

Research center: Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science

In this plan, while identifying appropriate methods to deal with oil pollution in the Caspian Sea, Modeling and monitoring of oil spills are made.

3-"Investigation and analysis of forces and moments acting on the structural joints of Box-Bottom of Amirkabir drilling platform in order to determine the critical points."

Research center: Sahand University of Technology

Due to critical details in structers of box-bottom in semisubmersible platforms and due to the materials, welding, environmental conditions and operational loads; the distribution of forces and moments on limbs and joints are calculated and measured in ordert to identify critical points and thereshholds to mitigate the undesired consequences.

4-"Study stability and loading/unloading balance tank of Amirkabir drilling platform and develop the required software."

Research Center: Sahand University of Technology

Planning, monitoring and handling of the loading/unloading balance tank of drilling platform by upgrading the current software, are the goals of this project.