Final answer:
Floating production systems are offshore platforms that utilize buoyancy principles and are anchored by weights or suction piles to operate in deep waters for oil and gas production.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of offshore platform that floats above a field and is anchored by heavy weights or suction piles on the seafloor is known as a floating production system. These advanced platforms are an essential part of offshore oil and gas production, enabling drilling in deep waters that were once unreachable by conventional stationary rigs. The floating platforms are able to maintain their position above the well through a combination of mooring lines and anchors which are securely attached to the seafloor. The concept behind these floating structures is related to the principles of buoyancy, where an object will float if the buoyant force is greater than its weight, and it will sink if the weight is greater. This principle is also used in submarines, which can control their buoyancy by adjusting the amount of water in their ballast tanks.