The Heidrun Field: TLP global performance and hydrodynamics
Heidrun, the first deep draft concrete TLP, was installed in July 1995 in a water depth of 345 m on the Haltenbank of the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The TLP has a displacement of 290610 tons, and the hull was designed to support a total topsides weight of 64,980 tons on Module Support Beams weight 18,550 tons. The TLP is a marine and structural system with complex interaction between the hull, topsides and the mooring system. This paper describes the basis for the sizing of the hull and tether system. Key issues addressed include weight control, stability during installation, tether system loads and constraints from fabrication and installation. The relative merits of the use of concrete rather than steel for the hull construction are discussed from a hydrodynamics perspective. Hydrodynamic model testing was used to resolve many critical design issues, including ringing which has had significant consequences for other deep water offshore platforms. New criteria were established for tether pretension. The Operational Expense of TLP Marine Control has been minimized by provision of the Marine Control and Data Acquisition system, which is used for in-service control of tether tension and for acquisition of key environmental and performance data. Continuity of weight control during Engineering, Construction, Installation and Operation was successfully implemented. TLP Performance data is presented in seastates up to 10.5 m significant. Evaluation by the Conoco Project Team of TLP performance, on-board training of Operators and provision of an automatic system for continuous shore-base monitoring of marine performance facilitated the timely handover of responsibility for TLP Marine Control to Statoil Operations.
- OSTI ID:
- 433953
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960525--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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