JACKET STRUCTURES
Jacket structures are steel lattice frameworks used as foundations for offshore platforms. They are anchored to the seabed with driven steel piles, ensuring stability in deep waters and harsh marine environments. Originally developed for oil and gas platforms, jacket foundations are now widely used to support offshore wind turbines and other energy infrastructures.
Why Jacket Structures Matter
Jacket structures are the backbone of offshore engineering because they make it possible to install heavy platforms in some of the most demanding environments on earth. The lattice design spreads the weight of the platform and resists the constant forces of wind, waves, and currents. This stability is essential not only for oil and gas platforms but also for offshore wind farms and other renewable energy projects. Without jacket foundations, many offshore installations would not be able to operate safely or efficiently over decades of service. They are built to last, ensuring that energy production continues even under extreme weather conditions.
How They Are Secured
The installation of a jacket structure is a highly specialized process. After fabrication, the structure is transported offshore on large barges and carefully positioned on the seabed. Once in place, steel piles are driven deep into the seabed through the legs of the jacket, locking the entire frame to the ground below. This pile-driving process creates an anchoring system that can withstand both vertical and lateral forces, keeping the platform secure even in deep waters and under severe marine loads. The result is a foundation that stays firmly in place for decades, allowing crews to safely build, operate, and maintain offshore facilities.
DSM Global's Approach To Jacket Structures
Working on jacket foundations requires precise and safe access solutions. Our scaffolding systems are engineered to tie into the main members of the jacket such as legs and braces, using certified couplers and anchoring methods approved for offshore operations. This ensures stability even in challenging marine conditions and allows welders, inspectors, and NDT teams to reach every critical joint. Where scaffolding is not practical, we set up suspended platforms or rope access, always under strict offshore HSE standards.
Once installation is complete, DSM supports the long-term protection of the structure. We prepare and insulate steel surfaces in splash zones and other exposed areas, applying anti-corrosion coatings and thermal protection in line with international standards. During maintenance campaigns our crews build temporary platforms for inspections, pile connections, and anode replacement, making sure the jacket retains full structural integrity. All activities follow ISO and HSE certification with teams trained specifically for offshore jacket operations.