MEGA ENERGY ARCHIPELAGO

The Mega Energy Archipelago is the fusion of two very different energy sources-- oil and wind. This concept springs from the unique conditions affecting offshore oil rigs in areas prone to frequent tropical cyclones. The archipelago strives to both resist and respond to hurricane forces. It resists the wind forces of the storm by using an aerodynamic shape to deflect direct winds, protecting the structure itself and the oil rig inside. It responds to storm conditions by utilizing the high force winds to generate electrical energy. This combination of oil rigs and wind farms creates a unique tension between dirty, fossil fuel pollution and clean, renewable wind energy. The Mega Energy cities will be sites that simultaneously harvest two very different forms of energy in the same location.

The wind turbines are mounted on the front of the aerodynamic structures to catch the wind energy. The structures are oriented with the oil rig at their center and are able to pivot around that point. This allows the structures to point towards the wind direction to simultaneously catch the wind and deflect it from interior spaces. When tropical storms are not present, the stations will be oriented towards the prevailing wind, and they will rotate to point into the wind currents of storms as they come.

The Mega Energy Archipelago is located off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, as seen in the following images from Google Earth.



Exact locations of existing rigs show the close proximity of oil platforms, making the proposed energy stations easily connected to form a network of individual communities connected by a common transportation network.

Great attention was brought to this site in 2005 when damage done to oil rigs during Hurricane Katrina caused an oil shortage for the southern United States. The importance of this site is further validated with mappings of tropical storm strikes across the world. When individual storm strikes are mapped according to location, intensity, and frequency, a storm archipelago begins to form across the world as the strikes build up over time.
[2001]
[2003]
[2005]
As the storm impacts overlap each other, certain areas of highest impact begin to emerge. These areas reveal the locations of the most storm activity, as seen in the darkest red areas on the following images.



[MORE MAPPINGS]
Overlaying rig locations with impact regions reveals the areas that both share. These areas are prime locations for Mega Energy Archipelagoes.

Inside each structure are multiple levels of occupied space, with open space in the center to give sufficient room to the oil rig. Each level consists of housing and businesses, allowing each energy station to become a functioning community on the water.

In the center of the structure there is an opening at the top to allow any dangerous fumes or smoke from the oil rigs to escape from the enclosure. Fumes can also leave through the back of the structure which is open to let in sunlight and fresh air. These energy cities are accessible by car or train via a series of bridges that connect them together as a network and connect them back to land, forming the whole Mega Energy Archipelago.

Mega Energy Archipelago

The Mega Energy Archipelago began as a series of mappings of the impact of tropical cyclones. When individual storm strikes are mapped according to location and intensity, a storm archipelago begins to form across the world. These images show storm strikes as they build up over time.
[2001]
[2003]
[2005]

Depending on how often and with what intensity of storm, different areas become more impacted, as seen by the darker red areas in the following images.



[MORE MAPPINGS]

Once these impact regions were discovered, they were overlayed with a mapping of oil rig locations to reveal the common areas.


[MORE MAPPING OVERLAYS]

Oil rigs became an interesting subject to consider, because so many rigs are damaged by tropical cyclones. In 2005, damage done to oil rigs during Hurricane Katrina caused an oil shortage for the southern United States. As a result of this damage, and the results of the mapping overlay, I discovered areas that are both high in storm strikes and in density of oil platforms.


Using Google Earth, I was able to get satellite images of the site, and map out exact locations of existing oil rigs.





The basic idea of the Mega Energy Archipelago is to both resist and respond to the hurricane forces. The archipelago resists the wind forces of the storm by using an aerodynamic shape to deflect direct winds, protecting the structure itself and the oil rig inside. It responds to storm conditions by utilizing the high force winds to generate electrical energy. This combination of oil rigs and wind farms creates a unique tension between dirty, fossil fuel pollution and clean, renewable wind energy. The Mega Energy cities will be sites that simultaneously harvest two very different forms of energy in the same location.

The program for the project consists of:
[1] the existing oil rig
[2] wind turbines
[3] housing & business space
[4] ability to respond to changing wind directions

The wind turbines are mounted on the front of the aerodynamic structures to catch the wind energy. The structures are oriented with the oil rig at their center and are able to pivot around that point. This allows the structures to point towards the wind direction to simultaneously catch the wind and deflect it from interior spaces.

Inside the structures are multiple levels of occupied space, with open space in the center to give sufficient room to the oil rig.

In the center of the structure there is an opening at the top to allow any dangerous fumes or smoke from the oil rigs to escape from the enclosure. Fumes can also leave through the back of the structure which is open to let in sunlight and fresh air. These energy cities are accessible by car or train via a series of bridges that connect them together as a network and connect them back to land, forming the whole Mega Energy Archipelago.

a few new images

today's desk crit

Desk crits today were extremely helpful. Going in pairs worked out well and gave me the chance to explain my project from the start. It helped me see what areas I need to focus on and emphasize more verbally as well as visually.

Vyew helps a lot too:

12.01.06

I adjusted my design for my storm energy cities to position the oil rig at a more central point in the structure, so that the city can pivot about the oil rig with more stability. I also adjusted the wind gathering structure to be more securely attached to the body.




I also found the general wind direction that occurs in this location when a storm is not present.


This resting wind direction will determine the resting set points for the cities. Since the wind comes from this direction at most times, the transportation network between the cities will be positioned to attached to the cities in this position.


I also considered how the transportation network might work. There would be trains running inside the bridge structures to connect to mass transportation on the mainland. Between the train corridors is a space for the transport of electricity, oil, water, and other materials through a series of cables and pipes. On top of the bridge is two lanes of traffic in each direction, allowing connection to road networks on the mainland.

Mega Storm Energy

SITE:
To determine the best site for my mega storm city, I looked for places where the most intense storm areas overlapped with existing oil rigs:


I then used Google Earth to locate the exact positions of oil rigs in the area via satellite imagery.





PROGRAM:
-oil rigs
-wind energy collection
-housing/offices
-storm protection
-connection of units

MODULES:
Each module is based on the existing oil rig. Attached to the rig is the housing/office area, which is a series of detachable/movable units that can be reattached and reconfigured. These areas are covered with a protective shield to deflect hurricane winds from the interior areas. On the front end of the shield is a series of wind vanes to collect energy from the storm winds to use as an alternative fuel source. The whole unit pivots about the oil rig, allowing the module to swivel based on wind direction in order to simultaneously collect wind energy and deflect wind from the interior spaces. The weight of the structure is supported on a flotation device located under the protective shield.


The modules all connect to each other during non-storm times when they are in their resting positions, to allow transportation between them.


ARCHIPELAGO:
Individual modules are located and sized according to existing oil rigs, to create a storm energy archipelago.


When storm winds come, all the units rotate to point into the wind to collect its energy.


The following animation shows a storm energy module rotating to point into the wind: