Model test of wave forces on a structurally dense jacket platform
- Mobil Technology Co., Dallas, TX (United States)
In the Gulf of Mexico, there are a significant number of jacket platforms built in the 1950`s and 60`s which are still in operation. Typically, these platforms have a large number of closely spaced legs and densely arranged bracing members. Since most of these platforms are beyond their design lives but the reservoirs are still producing, their safety, serviceability and fitness-for-purpose must be re-assessed in order to continue producing from them. During Mobil`s in-house re-qualification effort, it was found that the predictions by structural analysis programs (such as SACS and KARMA) were inconsistent with the platform inspection results. The programs predicted a large number of joint can failures during design storms (such as hurricane Andrew), but underwater inspections indicated only few failures had actually occurred. It was apparent that the procedure used for the assessment was conservative--either the wave loads the platforms experienced during the hurricanes were overestimated and/or the structural resistances were underestimated. This paper addresses the wave load issue. To calibrate the force algorithms typically used in structural analysis programs, a model test of a typical aging jacket platform was conducted in the wave basin.
- OSTI ID:
- 433926
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960525-; TRN: IM9709%%360
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 28. offshore technology conference, Houston, TX (United States), 6-9 May 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of 28. annual offshore technology conference: Proceedings. Volume 2: Platform and marine system design; PB: 947 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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