A compliant tower design for mild environments

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:55704

Reusswig, G H; Nair, V V ^[1]

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1. Mobil Research and Development Corp., Dallas, TX (United States). Dallas E and P Engineering

The compliant tower type of offshore platform is a bottom-fixed structure that is basically the same as the traditional steel ``Fixed Platform.`` However, the compliant tower is intended for deepwater application and is configured to be very much more compliant. It can thereby greatly reduce the effect of waveloads. Consequently, it can provide an economical platform in much deeper water-depths than the traditional fixed platform. Over at least the past two decades, numerous variations based on the principle of compliance have been developed to greater or lesser detail. This paper describes a particular design for mild environments as typified by offshore West Africa, for example. Relative to the designs deemed appropriate for somewhat more severe environments such as the Gulf of Mexico, the structure is significantly simplified, and can achieve substantial reductions in materials. Some performance data for the mild environment design is described and discussed, with some comparisons to other environments and the conventional fixed platform. For mild environments, the compliant tower appears particularly attractive in that it can offer the safety and reliability of a fixed platform operation, combined with very significant savings in materials and construction.

• OSTI ID: 55704
• Report Number(s): CONF-940230--; ISBN 0-7918-1264-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DESIGN
DYNAMIC LOADS
FLUID-STRUCTURE INTERACTIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SAFETY ANALYSIS
WATER WAVES
WAVE FORCES