Conductor support systems, also known as conductor supported systems or satellite platforms, are installations which are small unmanned platforms consisting of little more than a well bay, and a small process plant. They are designed to operate in conjunction with a static production platform which is connected to the platform by flow lines and/or by Umbilical cable.
Traditionally, these jacket-type structures have been installed and used in shallow to medium water depths of up to 40 – 60 meters. The conductor supported system use its inherited strength of the well conductors to support both the wells and the topside structure.
The conductor supported system is particularly suited to areas with more benign environmental conditions. The well conductors act as both piles and conductors. These are drilled and installed using a drilling jackup rig using conventional drilling / lifting techniques.