VDB 4123Z

FLOATING
OFFSHORE
STRUCTURES
OFFSHORE INSTALLATION
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME
CLO Description PO2 PO3 PO5
CLO 1. Evaluate loads on compliant and floating platforms x
CLO 2. Work out conceptual design of TLPs, floaters & mooring system x
CLO 3. Design the installation of TLPs and floating platforms x
TEMPORARY PHASES

Onshore
Load-out Transportation Installation
Fabrication
WORLDWIDE CONSTRUCTION

There are many major developments in the Oil & Gas Offshore industry being carried out Worldwide, oil/gas fields
under development and construction are;
 Africa 48 fields
 Asia 49 fields
 Australasia 38 fields
 Central America 8 fields
 Europe 139 fields
 North America 11 fields
 South America 23 Fields.
WORLDWIDE CONSTRUCTION

Africa
 The bulk of development is taking place for the East
African countries with Iran and Saudi-Arabia being the
main drivers developing in the Persian Gulf Area. East
Africa is forecast to become the largest developer over
the coming years.
Asia
 The major developments are based in China with
offshore construction yards in many coastal areas. China
has the bulk of raw materials such as steel available within
their country and are almost self sufficient. China does
lack some of the engineering expertise.
Australasia
 The construction industry has been established in this
area for a long time and fabrication is mainly carried out
in Australia, some construction is being contracted to
Malaysia and Singapore yards.
WORLDWIDE CONSTRUCTION

Central/North Development continues in Canada with some challenging fields being developed in the Alaskan
Waters. Development of fields in the Gulf of Mexico also continues development but these are
America a lot fewer than previous years.

UK North Sea development is now mainly marginal field completion with larger developments
West of Shetland. Norway continues development but as with UK mainly marginal fields.
Europe Azerbaijan continues to be the main driver in Northern Europe with development of the
Caspian Sea. Russia are mainly developing offshore gas fields. The remainder of European
countries continues small pockets of development

Brazil is the major player in this area with 19 fields under development. The remaining
South America developments are for Mexico and Venezuela.
WORLDWIDE CONSTRUCTION
The fields in Africa, Asia and
Canada tend to be in deep
waters consequently use of
fixed platforms are in the
minority. Most developments
use FPSO’s, Semi-
submersibles and TLP
installations.
The advantage to FPSO, Semi-
submersible and TLP construction
is that the units can be completed
and commissioned 100% at the
yard/drydocks.
In contrast to the deep waters of
Africa/Asia, the Gulf of Mexico has
many platforms installed and linked
in more shallow waters, this means
that the jackets are smaller and
much lighter in construction. There
are some deep water platforms
also.
CONSTRUCTION QUALITY & SAFETY

1 2 3 4 5 6

The combination of The design of offshore To ensure safety The Oil & Gas Industry At shop floor level Supervision and
handling hazardous structures, whether standards from the have well qualified and trade operatives are inspection levels have a
substances, working in fixed or floating, must outset the construction experienced trained and tested to much lower ratio than
an alien and remote not only be yards have very strict management, engineers meet the strict quality other industries with
environment makes the operationally correct quality and safety and trade operatives. and safety requirements. the normal level being 6
Offshore Oil & Gas but designed to make it procedures which are to 8 operatives per
Industry a very a safe place of work. adhered to at all times. supervisor depending
dangerous industry if on trade type.
not designed,
constructed and safely
operated.
CONSTRUCTION QUALITY & SAFETY

Design
It is essential that the design is not only fit for purpose but also fabrication friendly.
1. A construction team of engineers in the design office having an input to the design for ease and practicality of
fabrication.
2. It is essential that once AFC (Approved for Construction) drawings are issued, the amount of change is minimised.
3. Wherever possible it is an advantage that the construction method is fixed so that this can be included in the design
process.
4. Material choice can also have major impact on areas of fabrication such as, piping exotic materials Cunifer, Duplex etc
require specialist storage, handling and isolated fabrication areas.
5. Deliveries of equipment can be a major driver in the programming of the construction schedule and may require to
revision of the build method.
CONSTRUCTION QUALITY & SAFETY

Construction
1. Where ever possible large sub-assemblies are constructed undercover to ensure no
delays from weather downtime and contamination of the works from winds, dust etc.
2. This is most important in the welding process as all of the above can cause inclusions
in welds, cracking and undercut (non-adhesion).
3. Where sub-assemblies are to big for available workshop space then temporary
buildings are erected to accommodate construction.
4. The sub-assemblies are moved to final erection site and final assembled.
5. After the structure is almost complete (All heavy lifting completed) then the fit-out
trades move in.
6. It is essential that the fit-out trades are well co-ordinated to avoid work area
overcrowding and clashes.
7. The deck/module is fully commissioned prior to load out.
CONSTRUCTION QUALITY & SAFETY

Safety
The aim of construction yards is for “Zero Occurrences
and Injuries”
1. Issue Safety Manual for Project.
2. Carry out safety Inductions to all Project employees.
3. Appoint Safety Representatives from each trade/area.
4. Carry out regular Safety checks.
5. Maintain accurate Safety records.
6. Hold regular Safety meetings.
7. Ensure clean and obstruction and hazard free area.
CONSTRUCTION
• Productivity.
RISKS
Delivery •
•
Late Design Change.
Excessive Design Change.
There are many risks & Cost; • Weather (Outside Assembly and
during the onshore Load-out)
construction phase
which can effect
delivery, cost and • Workplace Cleanliness
safety. • Personal Protection.
Safety: • Lifting & movement operations.
The main risks are; • Pre-commissioning (High Pressures)
CONSTRUCTION RISKS

The delivery and cost risks can be reduced by measures put in place that are shown in previous slides;
1. Construction input at Design Stage.
2. Minimum issue of design change. (Client Restraint)
3. Adequate Supervision.
4. Expedient Quality Inspection.
5. Operative training and experience.
6. Good productivity.
CONSTRUCTION RISKS

Safety Risks can be mitigated by an enforced Safety Management System.

1. Work space cleanliness (Education of Workforce).
2. Regular Safety Inspections.
3. Regular Safety Meetings.
4. Issue of and adherence to construction Method statements and procedures.
5. Issue of and adherence to Testing and Commissioning procedures.
6. Regular Safety Training.
TEMPORARY PHASES

Onshore
Load-out Transportation Installation
Fabrication
 LOAD OUT

The phase of transferring the completed structure from the quay onto the
deck of a cargo vessel is referred to as the loadout operation.
Most loadout operations take one of four forms:

 Trailer loadout where mutli wheel hydraulic trailers are brought

underneath the structure, in order to lift it and wheel it onto the deck of a
barge which is placed right up against the quay;
 Skidded loadout where the structure rests on steel rails and winches are
used to push or pull the structure onto the deck of a barge which would
have to be equipped with skid beams to take the structure onto its final
location on the barge;
 Lifted loadout where the modules are lifted onto the deck of the barge
using shore based cranes or floating crane barges;
 Float-away loadout where a structure is built in a dry dock facility, such as
semisubmersible hulls, TLP hulls, FPSO hulls, etc. Upon completion, the dry
dock is flooded, or ballasted down in the case of floating dry docks and the
structure which floats under its own buoyancy is towed away by tug boats.
THINK PAIR SHARE

 How an offshore structure is transported to the site?

From here To here

TEMPORARY PHASES

Onshore
Load-out Transportation Installation
Fabrication
  Structures can either be wet or dry transported.
 In a wet transport the structure floats on its own hull and is towed by
one, or more tugs to the offshore site. In the case of dry transport, the
structure is loaded onto a flat top cargo barge, on a general-purpose cargo
carrier or on a purpose-built submersible ship often referred to as a heavy
lift vessel (HLV).
TRANSPORTATION
 Topsides, jackets, piles and subsea units have no or little buoyancy and are
normally transported “dry”.
 Structures such as semi-submersible vessels, gravity base platforms, tension
leg platforms, spars and jack-up rigs can be either wet or dry transported.
The decision to transport these structures dry or wet depends on
TRANSPORTATION

 Other consideration:
 Transport route
 Motions and stability
 Sea-fastenings / Tie downs
 Inundation/slamming
 Others?
TEMPORARY PHASES

Onshore
Load-out Transportation Installation
Fabrication
INSTALLATION OF FLOATING STRUCTURES

FPSO

Semi-submersible

TLP

Spar
OFFSHORE INSTALLATION

Offshore installation varies with the type of development involved.

1. Fixed platforms have the most work involved in an installation with Jackets and Decks needing to be transported
to the well location. Jacket positioned and piled, deck lifted to Jacket and hooked up, commissioned.
2. FPSO Require the anchor buoys to be positioned and fixed at location prior to transport of vessel.
3. Semi-submersibles vessels require no offshore installation other than setting of drag anchors etc on arrival of
vessel.
4. TLP unit require anchor bases laid sub-sea in readiness for the arrival of the TLP and then tension wires dropped,
positioned and secured.
5. Sub-sea Templates and completions require transport to site, offloading to sea bed and coupling to pipelines.
PLATFORM INSTALLATION CRITERIA
PLATFORM INSTALLATION CRITERIA – THE ENVIRONMENTAL

The following summarizes the industry’s approach to the ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA:

 Low environmental limits are set for operations that can be completed within a short period of time and can
be carried out in a relatively sheltered environment and under controlled conditions.
 Most loadout operations, for example can be completed in less than one day and are started upon receipt of a good weather
forecast.
 For operations that require several days to complete, the structure is designed to meet a design storm of 1 yr or greater.
 Operations that require longer than three days, but less than 30 days to complete, such as most of the towage operations, are
designed for the 10-yr return storm. Adjustments for limited exposure to certain sectors of the tow route are possible such that
the effective return period for the storm is reduced to somewhere between 1 and 10 yr.
 Operations that require longer than 30 days, such as mooring of FPSO and TLP at the quayside during hook-up and
commissioning work, are designed for storms with return periods that range from 20 to 50 yr.
PLATFORM INSTALLATION CRITERIA FOR FLOATERS
OFFSHORE INSTALLATION

Semi-submersible Platforms;
 Generally semi-submersibles are used for the initial well drilling and then move off for an FPSO to continue
production.
 There are some Semi-submersibles which remain through the production period.
 Semi-submersibles are moved to location and then final positioned using dynamic controlled anchor systems
which maintains it’s position accurately
OFFSHORE INSTALLATION

TLP (Tension Leg Platforms)

 There is quite an amount of pre-installation work at the location prior to the TLP arrival.
 The subsea anchor bases require installation in readiness for the anchor wires from the tension legs.
 Once the TLP is on site then the tension legs are set.
 There is no hook-up but completion of commissioning may be required.
 PLATFORM INSTALLATION CRITERIA – TENSION LEG PLATFORM
1. Tendon
 Stresses in the tendon sections have to meet the requirements of the API RP2A during the lifting and upending operation.
 Once installed, the net buoyancy in the temporary buoyancy module (TBM) has to be sufficient to maintain tension in the tendon and
ensure that the tendon offsets remain within the allowable design limits of the tendon connector.
 The strength of the tendon in this configuration has to be assessed against loads caused by an environment of a suitable return
period such as the 1-10-yr storm.
 Current loads are likely to be the predominant loads given that the top of the tendon is well below the wave zone. In addition to direct
current loads the effects of vortex induced vibrations should also be investigated with different current profiles.
 Fatigue damage in the tendons in the free-standing phase particularly due to vortex shedding should be investigated.
 Tendon delivery method and assembly – dry towed & offshore assemble or wet towed the completed tendon (refer hand-out for more
details)
 Tendon hook-up – Pre-installed tendons to the hull or assemble on site(refer hand-out for more details)

*Note: The purpose of the temporary buoyancy module is to keep the tendon upright and tensioned until the TLP is hooked-up to the tendons.
PLATFORM INSTALLATION CRITERIA – TENSION LEG PLATFORM

2. Platform floating over the tendon, the design of the floatover operation has to ensure that:
 There is adequate clearance between the platform and the top of the tendons, taking into account platform
motions and tidal effects.
 The platform has adequate static and dynamic floating stability.
 The platform structure can support the motions during this operation
PLATFORM INSTALLATION CRITERIA – TENSION LEG PLATFORM

3. Platform Ballasting for Tendon Connection

 The stability criteria tend to vary depending on the type of TLP and client specifications.
 E.g. mini-TLPs such as the Seastar are be installed with the assistance of a crane vessel. The larger TLPs typically
meet the static and dynamic stability requirements that are similar to those required for towage operations.
4. Lock-Off and Ratcheting Stage
 During this transient stage, the stability of the TLP is enhanced by the tendon stiffness.
 The loads on the teeth of the Length Adjustment Joint (LAJ) are checked against their respective allowable loads.
PLATFORM INSTALLATION CRITERIA – TENSION LEG PLATFORM

5. De-ballasting to Achieve Desired Tendon Tensions

 Once the final draft is achieved and the tendon connectors are closed, the loads in the tendons due to the
motions of the TLP, should remain tensile.
 Tendons are effectively tensioned to a set pretension by pumping out ballast water from the hull.
 A “storm safe” condition may be defined where there is sufficient tension in the tendons to resist the 10-yr
return storm.
 The installation operation should be designed such that the operations starting with float over till a storm-safe
condition is achieved can be completed within a reliable weather forecast of, typically, 72 h.
PLATFORM INSTALLATION CRITERIA – SPAR

Spars are installed by wet towing so site, controlled upending and hook-up to mooring lines.
 For the wet towing operation, the spar needs to meet the strength and stability requirements associated with the
design environment for the tow route.
 Intact and damaged stability requirements need to be met at the various upending stages. The spar global strength
is also assessed a t these stages.
 The mooring system has to have adequate factors of safety during its incremental hookup to the spar. Depending
on the expected duration of the hook-up operation, the design environment could be between the 1-yr return
and 10-yr return.
OFFSHORE INSTALLATION

FPSO (Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading);

 FPSO’s are brought in to position after the drilling is well underway with some wells complete and ready for
production.
 The vessel is located over the wells and either fixed to a pre-fitted anchor boy or secured with dynamic
controlled anchor system
PLATFORM INSTALLATION CRITERIA – FPSO

Floating Production Storage and Offloads (FPSOs) are often built or converted a long distance away from their final
installation site.
FPSO is towed or is self-propelled, the transportation to site is a temporary phase for which the hull and the
topsides need to be checked.
The following factors are considered when designing the tow to site operation:
 Hull girder strength
 Motions and accelerations and their effect on the strength of the topside structure.
 Vessel deflections and their impact on the strength of the topside structure.
 Vessel stability
 Bollard pull required
 Strength of tow line connections
 Seakeeping issues such as yaw motion while under the tow known as “fishtailing”
OFFSHORE INSTALLATION RISKS

The offshore installation risks are mainly centred on the lifting operations and weather.
 Offshore installations, especially fixed platforms, are badly effected by weather and can be delayed from travelling
to location due to bad forecasts.
 Upon reaching location the installation is again weather dependant with almost calm conditions required to final
position and lift.
 The whole of the offshore installation of the Jacket & Topsides lifts require near perfect conditions.
 Once the lifting operations are complete the jackets/topsides secured then there is very little follow-on work
which is at risk.
 Final Commission and start-up requires checking for transport damage, loosening of bolts, pipe joints etc. before
commencing.
 FOUNDATION

 Driven piles
 Required transportation and
installation
 Selection of hammer type and size
 Drilled and grouted piles
 Suction embedded anchors
 Drag embedded anchors
NEXT…

 Construction in deep sea