Innovative Concept of a Drilling and/or Production Platform for Operating in Arctic and Deep Water

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Chou ◽  
Susobhan Ghosh ◽  
Kevin Huang
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Floating Platform ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Arctic Condition ◽  
Strong Current ◽  
Production Platform ◽  
Conical Structure

A concept of an innovative floating platform using a conical structure was originally developed for operation in arctic region. It is called as MCAD (MonoCone Arctic Drilling Platform). The conical structure is used to reduce ice-loading as it facilitates ice to break in flexure while riding the slope of the conical surface. For supporting the weight of the platform, equipment, and ballast, a base structure with sufficient buoyancy is added at the base of conical structure. To ensure the platform with adequate stability, a heavy (solid) ballasting system that can be lowered to adjust the vertical center of gravity of the platform is incorporated in the system. The conceptual platform configuration has been analyzed for a large payload of more than 25,000 ST operating in approximately 125 feet of water depth. In the winter season, the platform is subjected to more than 12,000 ST of ice load. For warmer season the platform has been designed to survive a 45 feet significant wave height with 80 knots wind, and a very strong current of 6 knots. To withstand such magnitude of ice forces, mooring system using 32 lines was designed. For lower ice loads in a milder environment, the number of mooring lines can be reduced considerably. For operating in the warmer season, the platform was analyzed for design environments of operating and survival conditions. The motion responses in these conditions were found to be excellent in comparison to other deepwater concepts in use. With the promising motion response results of the conceptual platform with such a high payload, the concept is expected to provide operating company an alternative for deepwater application as well. Since the concept has been developed for a very large payload, the excess payload may be utilized as storages of produced oil. Mooring system for operating in deep water has been developed, and has been compared with that of the system for arctic condition. This paper describes the concept identifying the salient features. The effects of various features on the design and platform performance are also described. The ballast system with its lowering system makes this concept attractive for easy installation without the assistance of a large derrick vessel, a significant reduction of installation time is also expected. Results of stability, motion and mooring analyses is presented in the paper as well. Preliminary structural analyses were carried out to confirm the viability of the concept in operational, installation and survival conditions.

scholarly journals Transient Responses Evaluation of FPSO with Different Failure Scenarios of Mooring Lines

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Dongsheng Qiao ◽  
Binbin Li ◽  
Jun Yan ◽  
Yu Qin ◽  
Haizhi Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Service Condition ◽  
Mooring Line ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Transient Effects ◽  
Floating Platform ◽  
Transient Responses ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Performance Deterioration ◽  
Steady State Responses ◽  
Influence Process

During the long-term service condition, the mooring line of the deep-water floating platform may fail due to various reasons, such as overloading caused by an accidental condition or performance deterioration. Therefore, the safety performance under the transient responses process should be evaluated in advance, during the design phase. A series of time-domain numerical simulations for evaluating the performance changes of a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) with different broken modes of mooring lines was carried out. The broken conditions include the single mooring line or two mooring lines failure under ipsilateral, opposite, and adjacent sides. The resulting transient and following steady-state responses of the vessel and the mooring line tensions were analyzed, and the corresponding influence mechanism was investigated. The accidental failure of a single or two mooring lines changes the watch circle of the vessel and the tension redistribution of the remaining mooring lines. The results indicated that the failure of mooring lines mainly influences the responses of sway, surge, and yaw, and the change rule is closely related to the stiffness and symmetry of the mooring system. The simulation results could give a profound understanding of the transient-effects influence process of mooring line failure, and the suggestions are given to account for the transient effects in the design of the mooring system.

Coupled Dynamic Analyses of Deep-Water Semi-Submersible With New Spread Mooring System

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Chandrasekaran ◽  
Arvind Kumar Jain ◽  
Syed Azeem Uddin
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Irregular Waves ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Dynamic Positioning System ◽  
Exploration And Production ◽  
Ocean Environment ◽  
Offshore Oil

Abstract Offshore complaint structures dominate the deepwater oil exploration and production due to their adaptive geometric form and well-established construction practices. Semi-submersible is one of the widely preferred, floating production systems due to its form-dominant ability, better stability characteristics, and best constructional features. It is usually position-restrained using a dynamic-positioning system (active-restraining) or mooring system (passive-restraining); being less-sensitive to freak ocean environment is an added advantage. The Semi-submersible, chosen for the present study is based on a similar configuration of a 6th generation deep-water Hai Yang Shi You (HYSY) – 981 platforms, commissioned by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in 2012. A sixteen-point, spread catenary-mooring without submerged buoy (case-1) in the form of chain-wire-chain type configuration is used for position-restraining. Response behavior of the semi-submersible with a conventional spread catenary-mooring system with a submerged buoy (case-2) is compared. API spectrum is used for computing wind loads, while the JONSWAP spectrum is used to represent irregular waves for various directions of wave heading. The effect of non-linearly varying current is considered up to 10% of water depth. Numerical analyses of the semi-submersible are carried out under 10-years, and 100-years return period events using Ansys Aqwa. Under wind, wave, and current loads, motion responses of the Semi-submersible at 1500 m and 2000 m water depths are investigated for both the cases in time-domain. Dynamic mooring tension variations arise from the environmental loads are further investigated for a fatigue failure using the S-N curve approach. It is found that the fatigue life of the mooring lines after the inclusion of the buoy is enhanced. It was also observed that, during failure of mooring lines there is an increase in tension of the mooring lines which are adjacent to the failed mooring lines and this is due to the transfer of mooring load and hence reducing their fatigue life.

Understanding the Dynamic Coupling Effects in Deep Water Floating Structures Using a Simplified Model

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Min Low ◽  
Robin S. Langley
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Domain ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Wave Frequency ◽  
Computational Time ◽  
Coupled Analysis ◽  
Floating Platform ◽  
Coupling Effects ◽  
Mooring Lines

The global dynamic response of a deep water floating production system needs to be predicted with coupled analysis methods to ensure accuracy and reliability. Two types of coupling can be identified: one is between the floating platform and the mooring lines/risers, while the other is between the mean offset, the wave frequency, and the low frequency motions of the system. At present, it is unfeasible to employ fully coupled time domain analysis on a routine basis due to the prohibitive computational time. This has spurred the development of more efficient methods, including frequency domain approaches. A good understanding of the intricate coupling mechanisms is paramount for making appropriate approximations in an efficient method. To this end, a simplified two degree-of-freedom system representing the surge motion of a vessel and the fundamental vibration mode of the lines is studied for physical insight. Within this framework, the frequency domain equations are rigorously formulated, and the nonlinearities in the restoring forces and drag are statistically linearized. The model allows key coupling effects to be understood; among other things, the equations demonstrate how the wave frequency dynamics of the mooring lines are coupled to the low frequency motions of the vessel. Subsequently, the effects of making certain simplifications are investigated through a series of frequency domain analyses, and comparisons are made to simulations in the time domain. The work highlights the effect of some common approximations, and recommendations are made regarding the development of efficient modeling techniques.

scholarly journals Alternative Mooring Systems for a Very Large Offshore Wind Turbine Supported by a Semisubmersible Floating Platform

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinsong Liu ◽  
Lance Manuel
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Mooring Line ◽  
Offshore Wind Turbine ◽  
System Response ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Floating Platform ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Wind Speeds

As offshore wind turbines supported on floating platforms extend to deep waters, the various effects involved in the dynamics, especially those resulting from the influence of moorings, become significant when predicting the overall integrated system response. The combined influence of waves and wind affect motions of the structure and induce tensile forces in mooring lines. The investigation of the system response under misaligned wind-wave conditions and the selection of appropriate mooring systems to minimize the turbine, tower, and mooring system loads is the subject of this study. We estimate the 50-year return response of a semisubmersible platform supporting a 13.2 MW wind turbine as well as mooring line forces when the system is exposed to four different wave headings with various environmental conditions (wind speeds and wave heights). Three different mooring system patterns are presented that include 3 or 6 mooring lines with different interline angles. Performance comparisons of the integrated systems may be used to define an optimal system for the selected large wind turbine.

A Comparison of Radial Wellbay and Traditional Truss Spar Designs

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Murray ◽  
Edmund Muehlner ◽  
Guibog Choi
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Performance Comparison ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Production Platform ◽  
Truss Spar ◽  
Motion Performance ◽  
Made In

The Spar continues to be a popular drilling and production platform design for ultra-deep water. In recent years, developers have introduced a number of design variations such as the Arctic Spar, closed centerwell Spar, and long Spar. As the industry moves production into ultra-deep water, the escalation in drilling costs, particularly for deeper more complicated wells, prompts the need to look for new deepwater floater designs, including Spars. This paper introduces some new features to the Truss Spar, including a radial wellbay layout and an adjustable buoyancy centerwell device. This new Radial Wellbay Spar design is investigated and compared to the traditional Truss Spar for the same topside and riser weights and subjected to the same environments. The base case assumes a drilling and production platform with the performance comparison made in terms of hull weights and dimensions and hull motions for post-Katrina Gulf of Mexico conditions. In general, the Radial Wellbay Spar offers a smaller hull with fewer mooring lines for the same payload while maintaining the Spar’s low motion performance.

Optimal Design Methodology for Multi-Component Mooring Systems in Deep Water

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Long Yu ◽  
Jiahua Tan
Keyword(s):  
Optimal Design ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Mooring Line ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Offshore Platforms ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Restoring Force

Multi-component mooring systems, one of the crucial equipments of offshore platforms, play an important role in deep water oil&gas production because of relative low cost and light weight. A single mooring line can be constructed by combination of wire ropes, chains, fiber ropes, buoys and connectors etc. and provide adequate restoring force at fairlead point of platforms. Although the static and dynamic analyzing approaches for a determined multi-component system have been studied already, it is still hard to design and predetermine an appropriate mooring system that can satisfy the codes with multi-component lines. Referred to the conventional mooring system design method, this paper brings out an optimal design methodology for multi-component mooring systems. According to quasi-static method, at extreme offset position of the platform, an optimization model for designing the multi-component mooring line with biggest tension in deep water has been provided. Then, with the aid of design wave method and morison equation, a finite element model has been used to calculate mooring line dynamics at each fairlead point in time domain. The nonlinear interaction of mooring lines and seabed has also been investigated. Heave and surge of the platform have also been considered. Both 2D and 3D mooring system models have been built to search the interference of the lines and directional influence of environment loads like current and wave. The paper applied this set of analyzing methods and processes into a deep water semisubmersible serving at South China Sea. Compared with the results calculated by other software, the methodology mentioned in the paper got similar result with less weight and bigger restoring force.

scholarly journals STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOUR OF FULLY COUPLED SPAR–MOORING SYSTEM UNDER EXTREME WAVE LOADING

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S69-S77 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. M. Saiful Islam ◽  
Mohammed Jameel ◽  
Suhail Ahmad ◽  
Mohd Zamin Jumaat ◽  
V. John Kurian
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Mooring Line ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Wave Loading ◽  
Extreme Wave ◽  
Spar Platform ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Time Histories ◽  
Fully Coupled

Floating spar platform has been proven to be an economical and efficient type of offshore oil and gas exploration structure in deep and ultra-deep seas. Associated nonlinearities, coupled action, damping effect and extreme sea environments may modify its structural responses. In this study, fully coupled spar–mooring system is modelled integrating mooring lines with the cylindrical spar hull. Rigid beam element simulates large cylindrical spar hull and catenary mooring lines are configured by hybrid beam elements. Nonlinear finite element analysis is performed under extreme wave loading at severe deep sea. Morison's equation has been used to calculate the wave forces. Spar responses and mooring line tensions have been evaluated. Though the maximum mooring line tensions are larger at severe sea-state, it becomes regular after one hour of wave loading. The response time histories in surge, heave, pitch and the maximum mooring tension gradually decreases even after attaining steady state. It is because of damping due to heavier and longer mooring lines in coupled spar–mooring system under deep water conditions. The relatively lesser values of response time histories in surge, heave, pitch and the maximum mooring tension under extreme wave loading shows the suitability of a spar platform for deep water harsh and uncertain environmental conditions.

Evaluation of Safe and Failure Zones of Risers and Mooring Lines of Floating Production Systems

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aldo Roberto Cruces Girón ◽  
Fabrício Nogueira Corrêa ◽  
Breno Pinheiro Jacob
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Coupled System ◽  
The Other ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Global Response ◽  
Design Procedures ◽  
Safe Operating

In recent years, the design procedures of risers and mooring system for floating production systems (FPS) have had more feedback. In this way mooring and risers designers can identify, even in an early stage, the constraints imposed by one system over the other. This work presents an evaluation of the crossing of the information obtained from the analyses of risers and mooring system. Different riser and mooring analysis procedures are applied to a typical FPS for deep water applications. First, failure zones of the riser system are identified, so a safe operating limit zone can be defined. Then, the excursions of the platform are calculated taking into account the global response of the coupled system (hull, mooring lines and risers). Finally, the results are crossed in order to verify if the excursions of the platform are within the safe operating area. The evaluation presented here shows the important of correctly defining the safe operational zones and how the crossing of information can be conservative or not within the design process of mooring lines and risers.

A Study on Mooring Systems of an Offshore Floating Platform for Different Configurations

2014 ◽  
Vol 567 ◽  
pp. 197-203
Author(s):  
Anurag Yenduri ◽  
Montasir Osman Ahmed ◽  
V. John Kurian
Keyword(s):  
Static Analysis ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Mooring System ◽  
Preliminary Design ◽  
Floating Platform ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Matlab Code ◽  
Restoring Forces ◽  
Floating Platforms

Moored systemsof floating platforms typically have mooring lines in groups,attached to hull of the platform in different configurations.Study on therestoring behaviour of these systemsfor variousparameters of mooring lines gives an insight to decide on the preliminary design of platforms.This paper includesparametric study on the behaviour of mooring systems for various symmetric, asymmetric configurations of the lines. To compute the restoring forces of the mooring system,quasi-static analysis has been adopted and a MATLAB code named QSAML has been developed, validated with experimental tests and used for the parametric study.It has been observed that, the restoring capability of mooring system reduces whenthe lines are placed away from the wave heading.For any wave heading, the variation in restoring behaviour of mooring system with symmetric configurations is insignificant up to relatively small excursions of the platform.

Informing Components Development Innovations for Floating Offshore Wind Through Applied FMEA Framework

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Rinaldi ◽  
Philipp Thies ◽  
Lars Johanning ◽  
Paul McEvoy ◽  
Georgios Georgallis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Power Cable ◽  
Floating Platform ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Mooring Lines

Abstract Future offshore wind technology solutions will be floating to facilitate deep water locations. The EUH2020 funded project FLOTANT (Innovative, low cost, low weight and safe floating wind technology optimized for deep water wind sites) aims to address the arising technical and economic challenges linked to this progress. In particular, innovative solutions in terms of mooring lines, power cable and floating platform, specifically designed for floating offshore wind devices, will be developed and tested, and the benefits provided by these components assessed. In this paper a purpose-built Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) technique is presented, and applied to the novel floating offshore wind components. The aim is to determine the technology qualification, identify the key failure modes and assess the criticality of these components and their relative contributions to the reliability, availability and maintainability of the device. This will allow for the identification of suitable mitigation measures in the development lifecycle, as well as an assessment of potential cost savings and impacts of the specific innovations. The methodology takes into account inputs from the components developers and other project partners, as well as information extracted from existing literature and databases. Findings in terms of components innovations, their main criticalities and related mitigation measures, and impacts on preventive and corrective maintenance, will be presented in order to inform current and future developments for floating offshore wind devices.

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