Offshore Structures

United States Department of the Interior

Content:
Andrew Konczvald

Pagemaster:
Marcia Oliver

Offshore Structures

A few examples of offshore rigs, drilling and production platforms.
Left to right: onshore platform; fixed platform; jackup rig;
semi-submersible; drill ship; tension leg platform.

There are almost 4,000 production facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). These structures are susceptible to corrosion, damage caused by dropped objects, and contacts from vessels. The integrity (condition) of older platforms must be maintained. To ensure the safety and integrity of existing structures, improved inspection and monitoring systems need to be devised for platforms. The MMS, through the Technology Assessment and Research (TA&R) Program, is working with the industry to assess and improve these systems.

Shortly after the turn of the century, exploration wells will be drilled at 10,000 foot depths. Production systems are being designed for depths of 6,000 feet and greater. The product pipeline networks for gas and oil will extend well off the continental slope. Large reservoirs serviced by tension leg platforms or spar platform derivatives will be operated by a consortia of companies and have extended capability to handle distant subsea completions. Smaller reservoirs will use small moored floating platforms for production, many of which will be reusable in other locations. The business climate will demand innovative platform configurations, reductions in the weight and cost of risers and mooring systems and solutions to the pipeline reliability problems.

As more reserves are being discovered in deep water, the technology needed to design and build deep-ocean compliant structures, such as tension leg platforms, continues to evolve to meet technical and economic needs for deepwater development. This rapid evolution in technology needs to be independently verified to ensure continued safety of operations and protection of the environment. To assess the safety, risks, and reliability of the deepwater facilities, the TA&R Program will fund projects in the following areas:

1. fluid/structure interactions;

2. fatigue life and reliability of a wide variety of deepwater facilities; and,

3. operational developments relative to pipelines.

For more information, please email Andrew Konczvald.

Structures Reports
001	Underwater Inspection/Testing/Monitoring of Offshore Structures
002	Dynamic Response of Offshore Structures
003	Incipient Crack Detection in Offshore Structures
005	Attenuating Surface Waves in a Localized Region of the Open Ocean
006	Research Program Advisory
007	Unmanned, Untethered Inspection Vehicle Technology (the EAVE Program)
010	Subsea Inspection
019	Hurricane - Driven Ocean Currents
023	Incipient Structural Failure by the Random Decrement Method
029	Deepwater Structures Technology Assessment
030	Acoustic Imaging Technology for Underwater Inspection
031	Technology Assessment for Offshore Pile Design
033	Vibration Monitoring of Offshore Structures
034	Nondestructive Examination (NDE) Round Robin Test Agent
035	Gas Generator for Powering the Cavitation Erosion Cleaning Device of Project Number 4
037	Structural Materials for Arctic Operations
040	Mechanical Properties of Sea Ice
041	Ultrasonic Inspection of Underwater Structural Joints
042	Arctic Underwater Structure Inspection
043	Ice Forces Against Arctic Offshore Structures
045	Field Study of the Dynamic Response of Single Piles and Pile Groups in Stiff Clay
046	Behavior of Piles and Pile Groups in Cohesionless Soils
047	Study of Method of Design of Piles in Clay Soils Under Repeated Lateral Loads
048	A Study of Structural and Geo-technical Aspects of Tension Leg Platforms
049	Fitness-for-Service Criteria for Assessing the Significance of Fatigue Cracks in Offshore Structures
050	Development and Testing of an Ice Sensor
052	Dynamics and Reliability of Compliant Drilling and Production Platforms
053	Behavior of Concrete Offshore Structures in Cold Regions
054	Pile Foundation Design for Ocean Structures
056	Assessment of Structural Icing
057	Static Lateral Load Tests on Instrumented Piles in Sand
058	Wave Forces on Ocean Structures
059	Foundation Stability of Jack-up Platforms
060	Tension Pile Test, Joint Industry Project
061	Superstructure Icing Data Collection and Analysis
062	Southern Bering Sea Production System Study
064	Caisson Monitoring Project
065	De-icing and Prevention of Ice Formation on Offshore Drilling Platforms
066	Evaluation of Structural Concepts for Norton Sound
067	Rig Mooring Reliability
069	Reliability of Gravel Mat Foundations for Arctic Gravity Structures
071	Assessment of Analysis Techniques for Compliant Structures
072	Torsional Evaluation of Stiffening Members in Marine Structures
074	Drag and Oscillation of Marine Risers and Slack Cables
077	Ice Stress Measurements
078	Structural Concepts for Lease Sale 87
080	Development of a New Philosophy for Effective Underwater Inspection
082	Numerical Wave Force Simulation
083	Numerical Modeling of Ice-Structure Interaction
088	Inspectibility of Tension Leg Platform Tendons
090	Evaluation of Short, Large-Diameter Piles for Arctic Applications
092	A Theoretical Investigation on the Behavior of Complaint Risers
093	Site-Response, Liquefaction and Soil-Pile Interaction Studies Involving the Centrifuge
094	Dynamic Motion Study of a Large Scale Compliant Platform
095	Structural Icing Study, St. George Basin
096	Probability Based Design Criteria for Ice Loads on Fixed Structures in the Beaufort Sea
098	Punching Shear Resistance of Concrete Offshore Structures for the Arctic
099	Measurement of Ice Stress Around a Caisson Retained Island in the Beaufort Sea
101	Residual Strength of Offshore Structures After Damage
103	Ocean Wave Simulation Model
104	Damage Evaluation by System Identification Techniques
106	Development of Inspection and Repair Programs for Fixed Offshore Platforms
107	Offshore Structural Systems Reliability
108	An Investigation of the Non-Linear Behavior of Compliant Risers
110	Response to Spray Ice Structures to Ice, Atmospheric, and Oceanographic Forces
111	Development of a Method to Evaluate the Tension Capacity of Drilled and Grouted Piles
112	Project Cancelled
115	Hydrodynamic Effects on Design of Offshore Platforms
116	Impact of Annual Ice with a Cable-Moored Platform
117	Project Cancelled
118	Blast Effects Upon the Environment from the Removal of Platform Legs by Explosives
122	Earthquake Response of a Platform by the System Identification Technique
123	Molikpaq Ice Force Measurement Program
124	Quality Control Test for Platform Weldment Fracture Toughness
125	Seismic Response Analysis of Offshore Pile Supported Structures
127	A Magneto-Optic Based Flaw Imaging Technique for Underwater Applications
128	Response of Piles to Earthquake Ground Motions
129	Methodology for Comparison of Alternative Production Systems
130	Interference/Clearance Problem of Risers in Floating Production Systems
133	Synthetic-Fiber Mooring Lines for Deepwater Floating Production Facilities
134	Impact of Crushed Ice on the Ice-Structure Interaction for Arctic Platforms
139	Operational RIGMOOR
140	Wind Loads and Wind/Wave Interaction on Compliant Offshore Structures
141	Nipterk Spray Ice Island-Summer Protection Experiment
143	Testing and Evaluation of Damaged Jacket Braces
144	Fatigue of High Strength Steels for Innovative Offshore Structures
145	Response Prediction Techniques for Risers in Sheared Currents
146	Safety of Existing Steel Jacket Platforms
147	Method for Predicting Hydrodynamic Damping for Offshore Structures
166	Seismic Response Characteristics for Topside Facilities
167	Management of Human Error in Operations of Offshore Facilities
169	Capacity Analysis Program for Verification of Fixed Platforms
170	Improved Means of Offshore Platform Fire Resistance
171	International Workshop on the Seismic Design and Requalification of Offshore Platforms
172	Methodology for Assessing the Structural Integrity of Existing Platforms Subject to Seismic Loading
173	Methodology for Formal Safety Assessment of the Topsides of Offshore Production Facilities
177	Offshore Platform Database and Performance Evaluation System
178	Large-scale Ice Fracture Experiments
181	Assessment of Spray Ice Technology
182	Testing and Evaluation of Grout Repaired Tubular Members
183	Further Investigation into Capacity Analysis Procedures
184	International Workshop on Pile Foundation
186	Hydrodynamic Damping and Combined Motion Loading (HYDAMP II)
187	Analytical Simulation of Biased Loaded Tension Piles in Earthquakes
188	Model Design Code Development for Floating Structures
189	Strengthening Modifications and Repair Techniques
192	International Workshop for Requalification of Offshore Structures
193	Study and Hindcast of Wind and Wave Fields for Hurricane Andrew
194	Calibration of Mooring Design Code for Floating Drilling and Production Platforms
196	Sea Ice Scaling Effects
199	Hurricane Andrew Calibration Study
200	Securing Procedures for Mobile Drilling Units (MODU's) in the Gulf of Mexico
202	Methodologies for Platform Requalifications
204	Post Mortem Platform Failure Evaluation Study
205	Post Mortem Platform Failure Study
206	Shallow Water Wave and Current Field Study
207	API/Hurricane Foundation Study
209	Development of Acceptance Criteria for Caisson Structures Damaged During Hurricane Andrew
210	Hurricane Andrew Effects on Offshore Platforms
211	Architect and Engineering Services
212	Deep Water Subsea Conceptual Studies, Phase 1.
213	Design and Reassessment of Tubular Joints in Offshore Structures, Phase 4.
215	Study into the Strength Reliability of Offshore Structures
216	SPAR Development Model Test Program
217	A Guide for Risk Assessment of Offshore Platforms
222	Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis for Offshore Platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel
223	An Information Management System for the Reassessment of Offshore Platforms
224	Dynamic Non-linear Loading Effects on Offshore Platforms
225	Development of Evaluation Guidelines for Offshore Platform Topsides in Seismic Regions
227	Development of Grouted Tubular Joint Technology for Offshore Strengthening and Repair
229	Hurricane Andrew Effects on Offshore Platforms (Phase II - JIP)
231	Sea Ice Mechanics Workshop
232	Investigation of New Techniques for Abandonment of Offshore Structures
233	DNR-MMS Louisiana Offshore Pipeline and Platform Map
234	Lease Abandonment: Technology, Environmental Effects and Regulation (Lease Abandonment Workshop)
235	Summary of State of Louisiana's Oil Spill Regulations and Programs For Platforms and Pipelines Located in State Waters (OPA 90)
236	Development and Testing of the FLAIM (Fire and Life Safety Assessment Indexing Model) for Evaluating the Safety of Offshore Platforms and Marine Loading Terminals
237	Behavior of Suction Caisson Foundations
238	Recommended Procedure for Design of Drag-embedment (Fluke) Anchors
241	Assessment of Tubular Steel Joints in Existing Offshore Structures
243	Cathodic Retrofits for Offshore Structures
246	Reliability-Based Reassessment of Jacket Platforms
250	International Workshop on Use of Human & Organizational Factors (HOF) in the Management of Safety and Environmental Hazards for Offshore Operations and Facilities
251	International Workshop on Advanced Material for Marine Structures
258	API Benchmark Structure
261	Integrity Assessment for Aging Structures--Evaluation and Improving the Effectiveness of Ultrasonic Testing
262	Analytical and Experimental Investigations of the Behavior of Tubular Frames, Phase III
263	Underwater Welding Development Program, Phase II
266	Support of the Offshore Technology Research Center
267	Development, Testing and Evaluation of an Explosive Shock Wave Focusing Tool with Minimum Explosive Weight
270	Decommissioning of Oil and Gas Facilities Offshore California Workshop
273	Strengthening, Modification and Repair Techniques for Offshore Platforms--Phase II
274	Assessment Criteria and Reserve Strength of Tubular Joints--Phase II
275	Riser Reliability Analysis
277	Structural Integrity Assessment and Repair of Corrosion-Damaged Offshore Platform Tubulars
279	Assessment of the Feasibility for the Application of Threaded Connectors in Offshore Platform Caissons
281	Assessment of the Effects of Damage and Repairs of Existing Gulf of Mexico Platforms
283	Comparative Evaluation of Minimum Structures and Jackets
292	ULTIGUIDE Phase 2
304	Avoidance of Vibration Fatigue Failure in Process Piping Systems
305	Highly Compliant Rigid-Pipe Riser Analysis
308	International Workshop on Advanced Methods of Corrosion Mitigating for Marine Structures
314	Continued Development of Earthquake Load and Resistance Factor Design Guidelines
315	Engineers Design Guide to Deepwater Fiber Moorings
316	Reliability Study for Synthetic Moorings
322	Workshop on "State-of-the-Art Development of Composite Structures for Offshore Production Platforms"
323	Workshop on "Mexico Offshore Risk Based Technology Developments"
326	Underwater Welding Workshop
328	OTRC Cooperative Agreement
345	Rationalization and Optimization of Underwater Inspection Planning Consistent With API RP2A Section 14
346	Tailor-Designed Underwater Wet Welding Process for Offshore Structures and Pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico
360	Riser Interaction Model: A Combined T/F Domain Model
361	Numerical Prediction of the Non-Linear Hydrodynamic Forces and Responses of Flexible Offshore Structures (VIV)
368	Response of Tanker Based FPSO to GOM Hurricanes
372	State of the Art of Removing Large Platforms Located in Deep Water
374	Measurement of Wind Load Resistance on Drilling Structures
385	IUTAM Symposium: Scaling Laws in Ice Mechanics and Ice Dynamics
388	Fire and Blast Information Group (FABIG)
392	International Composites Workshop
394	Interim Damage Criteria for Replacing Damaged Polyester Rope
396	Guidelines of the Definition and Reporting of Significant Damage to Fixed Steel Offshore Platforms
399	An International Workshop on Fire and Blast Engineering for the Offshore Industry
402	Workshop on FPSO
405	Determination of the Feasibility of Thermite Sparking with Aluminum Striking Rusted Steel or Vice-Versa, etc.
406	FPSO Roll Motions
418	Risk-Extend Comparative Risk Assessment (CRA) for a SPAR-based FPSO
484	Oceanic Turbulence Project
502	Assessment of New and / or Improved Repair Techniques for Ageing or Damaged Structures

Last Updated: 09/03/2004, 09:14 AM