Downtime Analysis Techniques for Complex Offshore and Dredging Operations

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remmelt J. van der Wal ◽  
Gerrit de Boer
Keyword(s):  
Wind Waves ◽  
Weather Forecast ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Operational Mode ◽  
Offshore Structure ◽  
Hydrodynamic Models ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Made In

Offshore operations in open seas may be seriously affected by the weather. This can lead to a downtime during these operations. The question whether an offshore structure or dredger is able to operate in wind, waves and current is defined as “workability”. In recent decades improvements have been made in the hydrodynamic modelling of offshore structures and dredgers. However, the coupling of these hydrodynamic models with methods to analyse the actual workability for a given offshore operation is less developed. The present paper focuses on techniques to determine the workability (or downtime) in an accurate manner. Two different methods of determining the downtime are described in the paper. The first method is widely used in the industry: prediction of downtime on basis of wave scatter diagrams. The second method is less common but results in a much more reliable downtime estimate: determination of the ‘job duration’ on basis of scenario simulations. The analysis using wave scatter diagrams is simple: the downtime is expressed as a percentage of the time (occurrences) that a certain operation can not be carried out. This method can also be used for a combination of operations however using this approach does not take into account critical events. This can lead to a significant underprediction of the downtime. For the determination of the downtime on basis of scenario simulations long term seastate time records are used. By checking for each subsequent time step which operational mode is applicable and if this mode can be carried out the workability is determined. Past events and weather forecast are taken into account. The two different methods are compared and discussed for a simplified offloading operation from a Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring (CALM) buoy. The differences between the methods will be presented and recommendations for further applications are given.

Recent Advances in High-Frequency Wave Forces on Fixed Structures

1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Chakrabarti
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Specific Area ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Wave Forces ◽  
Offshore Structure ◽  
Frequency Wave ◽  
Wave Effects ◽  
Analytical Tools ◽  
Made In

The computation of wave forces is one of the most vital tasks in the design of offshore structures. Many analytical tools are available for the determination of wave effects on offshore structures. These methods may be divided into two major categories: one for small members of an offshore structure and one for large members. A hybrid method is used for structures that have both types of members. The advances made in the last few years in the specific area of computing the high-frequency forces are reviewed here.

Computing Large Amplitude Motions of a Floating Offshore Structure in the Time Domain

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Qiu ◽  
Hongxuan Peng
Keyword(s):  
Time Domain ◽  
Large Amplitude ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
The Body ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Offshore Structure ◽  
Floating Structure ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Large Amplitude Motions ◽  
The Time Domain

Based on the panel-free method, large-amplitude motions of floating offshore structures have been computed by solving the body-exact problem in the time domain using the exact geometry. The body boundary condition is imposed on the instantaneous wetted surface exactly at each time step. The free surface boundary is assumed linear so that the time-domain Green function can be applied. The instantaneous wetted surface is obtained by trimming the entire NURBS surfaces of a floating structure. At each time step, Gaussian points are automatically distributed on the instantaneous wetted surface. The velocity potentials and velocities are computed accurately on the body surface by solving the desingularized integral equations. Nonlinear Froude-Krylov forces are computed on the instantaneous wetted surface under the incident wave profile. Validation studies have been carried out for a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. Computed results were compared with experimental results and solutions by the panel method.

Closed-Form Spectral Fatigue Analysis for Compliant Offshore Structures

1988 ◽  
Vol 32 (04) ◽  
pp. 297-304
Author(s):  
Y. N. Chen ◽  
S. A. Mavrakis
Keyword(s):  
Closed Form ◽  
Fatigue Damage ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Power Spectra ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Fatigue Analysis ◽  
Cumulative Fatigue Damage ◽  
High Computational Cost

Spectral fatigue analysis frequently has been applied to welded joints in steel offshore structures. Although, on the theoretical basis, the spectral formulation holds certain advantages over other formulations such as the discrete, design wave type of analysis, numerical methods developed on that basis generally suffer from the shortcomings of lack of precision and high computational cost. This paper synthesizes the uncertainties resulting from modeling errors that are regarded heretofore as unavoidable in an analysis. Such errors are traced to the approximations introduced in handling of wave data, in numerical integration of the response power spectra, and in the integration that leads to the determination of cumulative fatigue damage. To each of these sources of modeling error, a transparent, closed-form method is proposed which not only eliminates the potential errors but, surprisingly, improves the computational efficiency many times. The sensitivity of fatigue damage upon the variability of the shape parameter due to variability of wave environment for the so-called simplified analysis utilizing an idealized mathematical long-term probability density function (for example, the Weibull distribution) is also discussed.

On Efficient Long-Term Extreme Response Estimation for a Moored Floating Structure

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
HyeongUk Lim ◽  
Lance Manuel ◽  
Ying Min Low
Keyword(s):  
Wave Train ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Offshore Structure ◽  
Floating Structure ◽  
Sea State ◽  
Peak Period ◽  
Frequency Wave ◽  
Extreme Response ◽  
Term Response

This study investigates the use of efficient surrogate model development with the help of polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) for the prediction of the long-term extreme surge motion of a simple moored offshore structure. The structure is subjected to first-order and second-order (difference-frequency) wave loading. Uncertainty in the long-term response results from the contrasting sea state conditions, characterized by significant wave height, Hs, and spectral peak period, Tp, and their relative likelihood of occurrence; these two variables are explicitly included in the PCE-based uncertainty quantification (UQ). In a given sea state, however, response simulations must be run for any sampled Hs and Tp; in such simulations, typically, a set of random phases (and deterministic amplitudes) define a wave train consistent with the defined sea state. These random phases for all the frequency components in the wave train introduce additional uncertainty in the simulated waves and in the response. The UQ framework treats these two sources of uncertainty — from Hs and Tp on the one hand, and the phase vector on the other — in a nested manner that is shown to efficiently yield long-term surge motion extreme predictions consistent with more expensive Monte Carlo simulations, which serve as the truth system. Success with the method suggests that similar inexpensive surrogate models may be developed for assessing the long-term response of various offshore structures.

Coupled Eulerian Lagrangian Approach to Model Offshore Platform Movements in Strong Tidal Flows

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Van den Abeele ◽  
J. Vande Voorde
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Wind Waves ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Offshore Platform ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Inertia Force ◽  
Offshore Platforms ◽  
Offshore Structure ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Tidal Flows

Offshore platforms are subjected to wind, waves and tidal flows. Tidal flow will generate a steady current, which induces a lift force and a drag force on the platform legs. In addition, water particle velocities induced by waves give rise to an oscillatory flow. As a result, the structure will experience a lift, drag and inertia force when subjected to wave-induced flow patterns. On top of that, a turbulent Von Karman vortex street can appear in the wake of the platform legs for certain combinations of dimensions and flow velocities. Vortex shedding can lead to vortex induced vibrations, which may jeopardize the integrity of the entire offshore platform. Environmental loads can cause significant deformations of offshore structures, which can in turn influence the fluid flow. Multiphysics modelling is required to capture the mechanisms governing fluid-structure interaction. In this paper, a Coupled Eulerian Lagrangian (CEL) approach is pursued to simulate offshore platform movements in strong tidal flows. In a CEL analysis, the fluid flow is modelled in an Eulerian framework: the water is described by an equation of state, and can flow freely through a fixed mesh. The offshore platform is modelled as a compliant structure in a traditional Lagrangian formulation, where the nodes move with the underlying material. Interaction between the fluid domain and the offshore structure is enforced using general contact conditions. The strongly coupled problem is then tackled with an explicit solver. Here, the CEL approach is demonstrated to simulate the movement of an offshore jack-up barge. The response of the vessel is calculated for different flow conditions. The multiphysics model allows evaluating the added value of structural redundancy, e.g. in the number of platform legs required for a safe design. In addition, it provides a valuable tool to predict the tidal windows allowed for given operational conditions.

scholarly journals Activation of the operational ecohydrodynamic model (3-D CEMBS) – the hydrodynamic part

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 1851-1875
Author(s):  
L. Dzierzbicka-Głowacka ◽  
J. Jakacki ◽  
M. Janecki ◽  
A. Nowicki
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Computational Modelling ◽  
Weather Forecast ◽  
Horizontal Resolution ◽  
Ocean Model ◽  
Operational Mode ◽  
Time Step ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
The Right

Abstract. The paper presents a description of the hydrodynamic part of the coupled ice-ocean model that also includes ecosystem predictive model for evaluation of the condition of the marine environment and the Baltic ecosystem, as well as a preliminary empirical verification of the operational hydrodynamic model based on the POP code in order to determine the consistence between the results obtained from the model and experimental results for the sea surface temperature. The current Baltic Sea model is based on the Community Earth System Model (CESM from NCAR – National Center for Atmospheric Research). CESM was adopted for the Baltic Sea as a coupled sea-ice model. It consists of the Community Ice Code (CICE model, version 4.0) and the Parallel Ocean Program (POP, version 2.1). The models are coupled through the coupler (CPL7), which is based on the Model Coupling Toolkit (MCT) routines. The current horizontal resolution is about 2 km (1/48 degrees). The ocean model has 21 vertical levels. The driver time step is 1440 s and it is also coupling the time step. The ocean model time step is about 480 s (8 min). Currently, the model is forced by fields from the European Center for Medium Weather Forecast. In the operational mode, 48-h atmospheric forecasts are used, which are supplied by the UM model of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical and Computational Modelling of the Warsaw University. The model of the marine ecosystem is the right tool for monitoring the state and bioproductivity of the marine ecosystem and forecasting the physical and ecological changes in the studied basin.

URANS Predictions of Low-Frequency Damping of a LNGC

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédérick Jaouën ◽  
Arjen Koop ◽  
Lucas Vatinel
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Viscous Damping ◽  
Wave Loads ◽  
Viscous Effects ◽  
Offshore Structure ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Cfd Simulations ◽  
Damping Coefficients ◽  
Hydrodynamic Damping

Abstract The horizontal motions of a moored offshore structure in waves are dominated by the resonance phenomena that occur at the natural frequencies of the system. Therefore, the maximum excursions of the structure depend on both the wave loads and the damping in the system. At present, potential flow calculations are employed for predicting the wave loads on offshore structures. However, such methods cannot predict hydrodynamic damping which is dominated by viscous effects. Therefore, the current practice in the industry is to obtain the low-frequency damping based on model testing. Nowadays, CFD simulations also have the potential to predict the low-frequency viscous damping of offshore structures in calm water. To obtain confidence in the accuracy of CFD simulations, a proper validation of the results of such CFD calculations is essential. In this paper, the flow around a forced surging or swaying LNGC is calculated using the CFD code ReFRESCO. The objective is to assess the accuracy and applicability of CFD for predicting the low-frequency viscous damping. After a description of the code and the used numerical methods, the results are presented and compared with results from model tests. Both inertia and damping coefficients are analyzed from the calculated hydrodynamics loads. Extensive numerical studies have been carried out to determine the influence of grid resolution, time step and iterative convergence on the flow solution and on the calculated damping. The numerical uncertainty of the results are assessed for one combination of amplitude and period for the surge motion. The CFD results are compared to experimental results indicating that the calculated damping coefficients agree within 5% for both surge and sway motion.

Influence of Wind Shear Uncertainty in Long-Term Extreme Responses of an Offshore Monopile Wind Turbine

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Barreto ◽  
Madjid Karimirad ◽  
Arturo Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Extreme Values ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Shear Coefficient ◽  
Extreme Responses

Abstract In the field of stochastic dynamics of marine structures, the determination of long-term extreme responses is a crucial aspect to ensure the desired level of structural reliability. The calculation of these responses requires precise knowledge of the environmental conditions and reliable methods to predict the values associated with a reliability target level. While there is a very precise method to determine the value of these extreme values, e. g. the full long-term analysis (FLTA), this approach is computationally expensive. Then, approximated methods are needed. One practical approach for the determination of the most relevant environmental conditions for extreme calculation is the environmental contour method (ECM). However, some limitations have been detected when this method is used for offshore structures that consider survival strategies e. g. offshore wind turbines (OWT). Lastly, a modified ECM procedure (MECM) has been developed with the purpose to bypass the limitations of the traditional ECM. This method is based on short-term simulations and through an iterative process by testing many environmental contours in the operational range allows finding an important wind speed with its corresponding return period and thus, the problem that traditional ECM has, is avoided. The environmental conditions, which are represented by a large number of parameters, are also an important aspect of extreme calculation. Whereas some of them are treated as stochastic values, some are considered deterministic and, therefore the existence of uncertainties in their measured/estimated values is inevitable. These uncertainties are addressed by adopting values recommended by standards and guidelines and, in practice, it is often necessary to be conservative when there is a lack of information about the specific site studied. Therefore, the understanding of the impact that these uncertainties can have on the loads/responses that govern the design of offshore structures, especially wind turbines, is of great relevance. In this work, the influence of uncertainty in the wind shear coefficient (WSC) is studied. This parameter is directly related to one critical environmental condition i. e. wind speed at hub height, and its influence in power production and fatigue loads has been documented in the literature, but, few cases have addressed their influence in bottom fixed OWT responses. This work seeks to highlight the relevance of an accurate selection of shear coefficient and, its influence on the probabilistic analysis of a bottom fixed OWT taking into account that considerable variations from recommended values may occur. Through the use of coupled simulations in FAST, the NREL 5MW wind turbine will be subjected to varying wind shear conditions, and the corresponding 50-yr long-term responses will be calculated considering the MECM to take into account the influence of the wind turbine survival mode. The extreme values are fitted from a Global Maxima Method (GMM). Finally, it is sought to relate the uncertainty in a relevant input parameter (i. e. WSC) with the uncertainties propagated to the output parameters (i. e. extrapolated long-term extreme responses).

On Efficient Surrogate Model Development for the Prediction of the Long-Term Extreme Response of a Moored Floating Structure

2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
HyeongUk Lim ◽  
Lance Manuel ◽  
Ying Min Low
Keyword(s):  
Wave Train ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Surrogate Models ◽  
Offshore Structure ◽  
Sea State ◽  
Peak Period ◽  
Frequency Wave ◽  
Extreme Response ◽  
Term Response

Abstract This study focuses on the development of efficient surrogate models by polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) for the prediction of the long-term extreme surge motion of a moored floating offshore structure. The structure is subjected to first-order and second-order (difference-frequency) wave loading. Uncertainty in the long-term response arises from contrasting sea state conditions, characterized by significant wave height, Hs, and spectral peak period, Tp, and their relative likelihood of occurrence; these two variables are explicitly included in the PCE-based uncertainty quantification (UQ). In a given sea state, however, response simulations must be run for the associated Hs and Tp; in such simulations, typically, a set of random amplitudes and phases define an irregular wave train consistent with that sea state. These random amplitudes and phases for all the frequency components in the wave train introduce additional uncertainty in the simulated waves and in the response. The UQ framework treats these two sources of uncertainty—from Hs and Tp on the one hand, and the amplitude and phase vectors on the other—in a manner that efficiently yields long-term surge motion extreme predictions consistent with more expensive Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) that serve as the “truth” system. To reduce uncertainty in response extremes that result from sea states with a low likelihood of occurrence, importance sampling is employed with both MCS- and PCE-based extreme response predictions. Satisfactory performance with such efficient surrogate models can help in assessing the long-term response of various offshore structures.

scholarly journals Offshore petroleum rigs/platforms: An overview of analysis, design, construction and installation

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-12
Author(s):  
Osamah Sarhan ◽  
Mahdy Raslan
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Maintenance Cost ◽  
Offshore Structure ◽  
Service Period ◽  
Fixed Type ◽  
The Cost ◽  
General Guidance

Jacket platforms are one of the most important and regularly used types of offshore structures for oil and gas extraction that have a big impact on the economy of the countries. In this paper, all aspects including design, analysis, construction and installing of the jacket type offshore structure, are summarized and classified. This type of structure is one of the specified platforms for shallow water, and for long term service, it also has the ability to carry large deck loads. This paper aims to present general guidance about the planning, design and construction of offshore jacket (template) platforms. Jacket platforms are fixed type platforms which are attached to the seabed using piles which provide stability against the wind, wave and current loads. Also, this type of offshore platform has a high initial and maintenance cost because of its exposure to corrosion, and cannot be reused after the end of its service period. Jacket platforms are most suitable for shallow water having no better alternative while it has the cost disadvantage for deep water.

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