Hurricane wave height and forces--2: Deepwater storm waves dissipate across continental shelf

Journal Article · Mon Sep 26 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7039448

Bea, R G

In the first article of this series, we addressed the background and formulation of existing API design criteria for shallow water platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. In this second article, attention is focused on the characterization of storm-generated, deepwater wave heights, and the physical processes which dissipate this energy over the continental shelf. The maximum wave height which can be reasonably expected to affect a structure during its lifetime is one of the most critical factors influencing the design of an offshore structure. The estimation of future maximum wave occurrences must reflect the past history of storm wave occurrences. Thus, long-term historical data bases are essential for estimating maximum wave height occurrences with meaningful reliability. Characterizations of historical storm conditions may be based on either measured or hindcast data. However, since relatively small amounts of measured wave data are available in the Gulf of Mexico, hindcasting techniques are necessary to extend the data base. A hindcast is the reconstruction of an historic event, or series of events, to yield certain meteorological and/or oceanographic data for the study area. Through reconstruction of these events, a series of data may be generated. A statistical analysis can be conducted with the hindcast data to provide estimates of future occurrences.

• Research Organization: PMB Systems Eng., Inc., San Francisco, CA
• OSTI ID: 7039448
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 81:39; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
42 ENGINEERING
423000 -- Engineering-- Marine Engineering-- (1980-)
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
DESIGN
DIMENSIONS
DISASTERS
DISSIPATION FACTOR
GRAVITY WAVES
GULF OF MEXICO
HEIGHT
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
HURRICANES
MANAGEMENT
MATHEMATICS
METEOROLOGY
OCEANOGRAPHY
OFFSHORE PLATFORMS
SEAS
STATISTICS
STORMS
SURFACE WATERS
WATER WAVES
WAVE FORCES
WAVE PROPAGATION