As oil exploration and production move into water depths over 1000 ft (305 m), several companies are investigating compliant structures as possible solutions to the economic and engineering problems involved. This paper focuses on the tension-leg type of platform, a positively buoyant structure kept on location by a pretensioned anchoring system. The basic approach to design of a tension-leg platform system, the various components of the system and the interaction between naval architectural and structural design considerations are presented. The author points out that planning for a successful design must include:preparation of good design criteria,determination of variables,evaluation of variables for sensitivity and interaction,accurate and timely engineering decisions in selection of a set of parameters, andparallel studies covering fabrication, transportation and installation requirements.
Appendices give the mathematical bases for computing motions of the tenslon-leg platform and graphic illustrations of platform characteristics and the effects of typical exciting forces.
Recent structural design considerations related to floating production systems
