//

Nonlinear Analysis of Offshore Structures

Master of Science
By

Elsayed Mahmoud Aly Abdel-Aal

B.Sc. 2004, Senior Engineer in Egypt Gas Company

Supervised by:

Examined by:

Prof.
Prof. Dr.
Dr. Aly G. A. AbdelAbdel-Shafy

Prof.
Prof. Dr.
Dr. Ahmed ElEl-Badawey Sayed

Prof.
Prof. Dr.
Dr. Fayez Kaiser AbdelAbdel-Seed

Prof.
Prof. Dr.
Dr. Mahmoud H. Ahmed

Assoc Prof.
Prof. Shehata E. Abdel Raheem

Prof.
Prof. Dr.
Dr. Aly G. A. AbdelAbdel-Shafy
Prof.
Prof. Dr.
Dr. Fayez Kaiser AbdelAbdel-Seed
Assoc.
Assoc. Prof.
Prof. Shehata E. Abdel Raheem

The offshore structures is very important structures as install in the sea

for many purpose;
Exploration and production
of oil and gas,
Harnessing power from sea,
Navigational lighting,
Radar surveillance,
Space operations,
Oceanographic research.
In this study We focus on
the structures used for the
exploration and production of
oil and gas industry.
There are about more than 9000 fixed offshore platforms around the
world related to hydrocarbon/oil production.
In Egypt there are platforms in Gulf of
Suez and Mediterranean Sea.

//

General
Introduction
on
offshore
(classification, objective, methods of
challenges that faced )

structures
installation,

Forces affect on offshore structures

Finite Element Procedures and Mathematical modeling
Numerical study and Results discussions
Conclusions and
present research

recommend

future

extension

General Introduction on
offshore structures

of

//

Offshore Structure Definition

An offshore structure has no fixed access to dry land and may be
required to stay in position in all weather conditions. The going to it
only by boat or helicopter.
Objective:
Objective: The majority of offshore structures support the exploration
and production of oil and gas industry

Platform classification (Function and Types)

The variety of platform types
is due to different factors:
technological and scientific
progress, economical factors,
deeper natural reservoirs,
ecological constraints.

Rigid

Fixed
offshore
platforms
Compliant

Steel jacket
Steel tower
Steel gravity
Concrete gravity

Free standing tower

Guyed tower
Spar tower
Tension Leg Platform (TLP)

General scheme of offshore platforms in relation

with water depth

Drilling ship
jacket
SemiSemi-submersible
jackjack-up
jacket

TLP

//

Rigid platforms: Steel Jacket

The most classical and widely
used offshore platform. This type
is the case study in this thesis.
thesis.
It is composed of three principal parts: the
deck, carrying the topsides (living quarters,
drilling derrick consumables, facilities,
helideck, flare etc.), the jacket itself and the
foundation piles.
Steel jackets are normally used in shallow to
moderate deep waters (from 20 to100
to100 m).
m).

Methods of Installation

Step2
Step2: Barge install the platform deck

Step1
Step1: Barge install the jacket
Step3
Step3: Mating of platform deck with jacket

//

The construction phases of a jacket

1: Construction in a coast yard;
2: Transportation by barge on the
oil field;
3:: Launching of the jacket.

Platform Jacket Foundation

Light /Shallow water Jacket: (Steel jacket) Piles are inserted in the legs
Heavy /Deep Water Jacket:.
Jacket: (Steel tower ) Piles are inserted in Skirt piles
around the outside of the legs.

//

Rigid Gravity Platforms (Steel or Concrete)

Rarely used, uses its own weight to counter the lateral actions due to wind and
waves: the weight is used as a stabilizing force.
Nevertheless, the real reason for using gravity platforms is the nature of the
soil, when it is of solid rock, it is impossible to drive piles into it.
An important feature of all the gravity platforms is that they can be removed
for demobilization or re-use.
Normally, the structure has a certain number of large tanks, flooded by water
or by crude oil, to ballast the platform and provide the necessary weight to
counter overturning lateral forces.
These tanks, in the transportation phase, provide the necessary buoyancy.

//

Concrete gravity platforms:

platforms: Malampaya is a concrete gravity
platform (Philippines).

1. construction in a dock under the sea level

3. flooding of the dock: the platforms is ready to

be towed

4. towing of the concrete substructure

6. mating

2. construction of the towers

5. ballasting of the concrete substructure

7. the final platform

//

Compliant Platforms:
Platforms: Free Standing Towers
classical towers but so slender that their structural behavior is that of a
compliant structure: large sway displacements and high oscillating period.
system is strong enough to with stand hurricane conditions.

Baldpate: is one of the highest, freestanding compliant structure in the world.

Characteristics:
water depth: 501 m;
sway response cycle: 30 s;
lateral displacement: 3 m;
cross section: 42.6 x 42.6 m (bottom) ,
27.4 x 27.4 m (top);
weight of the tower:
28900 t;
weight of deck and
topsides: 2700 t ;

Compliant Platforms: Guyed Tower

Compliant platforms are composed by a slender jacket, normally pin-joined
at its base, whose vertical stable position is ensured by the buoyancy of the
structure itself and by a series of mooring catenaries lines.
The structure can oscillate under the lateral actions, the restoring force
being provided by the buoyancy and the mooring lines. The clump weights
provide additional restraining forces in case of storm.
These platforms are used for water depth in the range 200-600 m, and they
can be re-used.

//

Compliant Platforms: SPAR towers

These platforms are composed by a large steel tube as substructure
directly supporting the deck and topsides.
The tube is ballasted so as its floating stable equilibrium position is
vertical (including topsides), and moored by tensioned risers and by
mooring lines (catenaries).
The first Spar platform in the Gulf of Mexico was installed in
September of 1996. It's cylinder measured 770 feet long, and was 70 feet
in diameter, and the platform operated in 1,930 feet of water depth.

TLP (Tension Leg Platforms)

They are floating structures anchored to the seafloor by a series of
vertical tendons (tethers) pre-tensioned by extra-buoyancy. The tethers
are made by steel pipes.
A TLP is composed by 4 principal parts: the deck,
the hull, the tethers and foundation template.
TLP are very large structures, able to host great
payloads. So, they are used for great fields and can
host some refining processes and have a good
storage capacity.
TLP can be used from 150 m of water depth on,
and theoretically there is no limit of water depth .
The restoring force is given by extra buoyancy;
this is obtained de-ballasting the TLP hull once the
tethers installed.
TLPs can be re-used.

//

Snorre platform: is an example of TLP

Characteristics::
Water depth: 395 m;
Dimension : (100 x 100 )m;
Colum diameter: 24.4 m;
Topsides weight : 30000 t;
hull's weight : 43700 t.

Mini TLP:

These TLP have a less

payload capacity, and are normally used
for deep water small field.

snorre

Mini TLP

The design of an offshore platform is a very complex process, as several different

aspects must be taken into account.
Preliminary Phase: data concerning the industrial activity, the construction facilities,
the environmental conditions must be collected.
Construction Phase:
Phase: Greater jackets are skidded onto barges and then launched
into the sea, eventually with the aid of a crane or of floating units.
Transitory Phase of Pile Driving:
Driving: the jacket must not overturn
under the action of moderate waves.
The knowledge of the climatic and geographic data allows
to determine some fundamental dimensions of the
structure. once the LAT (Lowest Astronomical Tide) and
the design wave known, the height h of the jacket can be
determined:
Here, a is the wave amplitude, t max is the maximum
tide and ag is the so-called air-gap.
API RPRP-2A specifies that the lowest deck must maintain a
minimum of 1.5 m air gap between the bottom of the deck
beams and the wave crest during the maximum expected
level of water

//

Permanent (dead) loads:

loads: structural loads,
deformation and hydrostatic permanent loads.

operational

dead

loads,

Variables (live) loads:

loads: are composed of operational live loads, environmental
loads, accidental loads, variable hydrostatic and deformation loads.
Structural load:
load Self weight of the structure constituting the platform; hence, it
is a result of the design process.
Deformation loads:
loads: Loads produced by an imposed state of strain on the
structure. (temperature differences, ground settlements, pre-stressed
states).
Hydrostatic loads:
loads: buoyancy of some submerged members (depending upon
tides and waves).
Accidental load:
load: wrong operations or by events not considered in the
normal operations of the platforms (explosions, impacts, fires).

Environmental Loads:
Loads: Environment gives different kinds of actions on
offshore platforms such as:

Wave force, Current force, Marine growth, Ice forces, Wind force, Snow
forces and Earthquake action.

//

Wave Theories
the wave theory describes the properties of one cycle of the regular waves
and these properties are invariant from cycle to cycle.
Small amplitude wave theories,
Finite amplitude wave theories.
The assumptions made in formulating the wave models:
ideal fluid (i.e. inviscid incompressible fluid); irrotational motion;
bi-dimensional flow; horizontal plane sea bottom.
The model scheme is in the figure:

L: the wave length;

d: the water depth;
: the wave surface position
above the still water level(SWL);

a: the wave amplitude;

H=2
H=
2a: the wave height;
=2
=2/T: the wave frequency;
T: the wave period;
k=2
k=
2/L: the wave number.

Wave Forces
In offshore engineering,. So, only three
forces due to the water are considered:
The Archimedes' force (static);
The inertial force (dynamic), due to waves;
The drag force (dynamic), due to waves and currents.
In computing wave forces on a structure, the structure is considered fixed
in its equilibrium position. A distinction is made regarding small vs. large
structures.
For small structures, The Morison equation is used for the wave force
computation.
For large structures, The linear diffraction/radiation theory is used for the
wave force computation.

Morison's Equation
It is an empirical formula to compute inertia and drag forces on a small
structural member.
The forces depend on the inertia and the drag coefficients. These
coefficients are determined experimentally either in the laboratory or from
the field measurements.

//

It is the case of slender bodies, i.e. of cylinders of small diameter in

comparison with the wave length (D/L< 0.2).
The force is given by the Morison's equation as the sum of the inertial
term (Froude-Krylov force) and the drag term.

The force per unit length acting upon a vertical cylinder is:

API norms suggest the values CD = 0.6 to 1.2 and CM = 1.3 to 2.0.

Wind Force
The general form of the wind drag force (pressure drag) is:

F d = 1/2 Cd a AU 2
: fluid density (air: 1,225 kg/m3);

A: area of the projection of the body on a plane orthogonal to the flow;

U: wind speed;
Cd : drag coefficient.

Cd = 1.5 for beams and sides of buildings,

Cd = 0.5 for cylindrical sections and Cd = 1
for total projected area of platform
Velocity profile:
profile: concerning the wind
speed U, depends upon place and time:

U= U(x, y, z, t)

//

Current Forces
A typical vertical profile of the current speed is decreasing with
deepness.
DNV rules give the following velocity profile V(z)
for a current, sum of the astronomic tide current Vt
(z) and of the wind current Vw (z);

Marine Growth
Marine growth is accumulated on submerged members. increase the
wave forces on the members by increasing exposed areas and volumes,
and the drag coefficient due to higher surface roughness.
Depending upon geographic location, the thickness of marine growth
can reach 0.3 m or more.
The thickness of marine growth
may be assumed to increase linearly
to the given values over a period of
2 years after the structure has been
placed in the sea.
The specific weight of the marine
growth in air may be set equal to 13
kN/ m3.

//

Finite Element Procedures

and Mathematical Modeling

The State of Problem

In Egypt the last decade the climate change and the wave height and
wind speed increase than old measurements especially in Red Sea and
Mediterranean Sea.
The Gulf of Suez in Red Sea subjected to high wind speed and increasing
wave height in April 2010, which play a vital role in stability of offshore
platforms and many of platforms subjected to problems and cracks.
In Alexandria on coastal of Mediterranean Sea the wave height increases
in December 2010 and covered many structure beside sea costal, high
roads and closed the ports.
For these changes the forces and loading acting on offshore structures in
Egypt change and increase and all old offshore structures subject to over
load which affected on life time of platforms. Which a lot of offshore
platforms in Gulf of Suez installed from 20 to 50 years needing to
development and extension.

//

Motivation of this Research Work

After the high weather that occurred in 2010 at Gulf of Suez the offshore
production platform "July-6" has subjected to huge lateral loading and
caused cutting in 2 legs of the jacket and made collapse in the horizontal
braces at top of jacket.
jacket.

Before

After

This study focus on response of fixed jacket subjected to different

weather conditions to predict the critical deflection, failure modes
and the maximum force demands in platforms and how to prevent
offshore platform from collapse.
collapse.

Objective and Methodology

The objective of this research:
research: is to develop an effective procedure for the
investigation of the hydrodynamic forces resulting from environmental and
interactions of fixed jacket type offshore platform subjected to operation
and extreme storm wave loads.
Methodology:
Methodology: A nonlinear response analysis of a fixed offshore platform
under wave loading is presented
The structure is discretized using the finite element method, wave force
is determined according to linearized Morison equation.
Hydrodynamic loading on horizontal and vertical tubular members and
the dynamic response of fixed offshore structure together with the
distribution of displacement, axial force and bending moment along the
leg are investigated for regular and extreme conditions.
The structure should keep production capability in conditions of the one
year return period wave (regular conditions) and must be able to survive
the 100 year return period storm conditions (extreme conditions).

//

Case Study Model

The case study platform is a fixed Jacket-Type platform, currently installed
in the Suez gulf, Red sea, 1988.
The offshore structure is a four legs jacket platform, consists of a steel
tubular space frame. There are diagonal brace members in both vertical and
horizontal plans. The platform installed in 110 feet (33.5 m) water depth and
supported by four piles.

Model Description
Platform was originally designed as a 4 Leg platform installed in 110 feet
water depth (jacket levels by feet and sections dimension by inch);
The platform divide into Top side structure consists of Helideck (50 ft x
50 ft) at EL. (+ 54 ft) & Production deck (50 ft x 50 ft) at EL. (+26 ft) and
jacket which top of jacket at level (+12.5 ft).
In the splash zone area that is assumed to
extend from EL. (-6 ft) to EL. (+6 ft) LAT. (Lowest
Astronomical Tide).
The jacket legs are horizontally braced with
tubular members; In the vertical direction, the
jacket is X-braced with tubular members
The platform is supported by 4 piles (30" O.D.
X 1.25" W.T.).
All structural steel shapes, plates and tubular
are normal mild steel in accordance with ASTM A36 with minimum yield stress of 36 ksi.

//

Finite Element Analysis Model

A 3D model has been generated for The
Platform using SAP 2000 (Structural Analysis
Programmer) computer package.
Secondary members that are not expected to
contribute much to the structure strength are
not included in the model simulation (i.e.
ladders, grating, etc.) but their loads were
reflected to the model.
The right hand Cartesian system is used with
the Z-axis vertically upwards and the origin is
located at the Main water Level (MWL).

Environmental Forces
The design water depth at platform location shall be taken as actual
water depth (-110 ft).The highest astronomical tide shall be taken as:
3 feet for the 1 year return period & 5 feet for the 100 years return.
The platform in concern shall be checked and evaluated for the both:
100 year extreme storm design criteria &1 year operation storm design.

Wind Force
The 100 and 1 year return period sustained wind at 30 feet above LAT
(lowest astronomical tide) shall be 70, 60 mph (mile per hour) respectively
and the wind may act in any direction.
The wind loads on the topsides and exposed part of the jacket shall be
calculated based on the topsides layout configurations to determine the
shape coefficients for both the 100 year storm and the 1 year storm.

Wave Force
The Omni-directional wave shall be taken as:
For 100 year the Wave height = 26 feet, Wave period = 8 sec.
For 1 year the Wave height = 17 feet, Wave period = 6.5 sec.
A wave spreading factor (kinematics factor) = 0.95.

Marine Growth
The increase in all members radius shall be taken as 2 inch for the highest
50 feet and 1 inch for the rest of water depth down to mud line elevation.

//

Current Force
The current profile assumed to act with the wave shall be taken as:
For 100 year 4, 0 feet/second in accordance with the surface and mud
line profile respectively.
for 1 year 3, 0 feet/second in accordance with the surface and mud
line profile respectively.
Current blockage factors may be used as recommended by API (American
petroleum institute) for jacket structures with 4 legs are:
0.8 for orthogonal current;
0.85 for diagonal current.

Load Data
Dead Load; It automatically generates by the module of SAP-2000
computer program for all modeled members.
Live Load; It is assumed as uniformly distributed live load intensity of
50 psf " 0.245 t/m2 " applied for Helideck area
200 psf "0.978 t/m2 " applied for production deck and cellar deck area.

Hydrodynamic Load Data

Wave kinematics factor (spreading factor) due to wave directional
spreading of 0.95 was adopted.
Hydrodynamic coefficients, CD and CM, for clean and rough members as
per item "2.3.1-7 of the API RP-2A WSD " which :
CD is 0.65 and 1.05 for smooth and rough tubular members respectively;
CM is 1.6 and 1.2 for smooth and rough tubular members respectively.
Coefficients for rough case shall be applied in areas subjected to marine
growth.

Buoyancy Loading
Buoyancy was generated for all modeled jacket members. Buoyancy was
generated by "sea state" module based on the marine method in which
buoyancy is generated as the weight of the displaced fluid and acting
vertically on the members.

//

Numerical study and

Results discussions

Analysis Procedure
The natural frequencies and vibration mode shapes are computed by
Eigen value analysis.
To provide a more accurate and effective design, a finite element model
is employed herein to determine the internal forces and displacements in
an offshore leg under combined structural and wave loadings.
The vertical structural load is essentially a static load, while the lateral
wave loading fluctuates in time domain and is directly affected by the
incident wave angle.
The following table lists the properties of sea state in this studied.

Definitions

Water depth
(MSL) ft

LAT

HAT

(MSL) ft (MSL) ft

1-year return period wave for

operating conditions

100 year return period wave

for extreme conditions

110'

-6'

Tide

(ft)

H max.
(ft)

(sec)

3'

17'

6.5

5'

26'

6'

//

Different load combinations are applied to platform.

Description

Load combination

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

Dead Loads
Comb " Dead Load + Live load "
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 year+ currents hitting 00.0 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 year + currents hitting 45.0 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 year + currents hitting 90.0 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 year + currents hitting 135 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 year + currents hitting 180 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 year + currents hitting 225 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 year + currents hitting 270 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 year + currents hitting 315 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 100 year + currents hitting 00.0 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 00year + currents hitting 45.0 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 00year + currents hitting 90.0 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 00year + currents hitting 135 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 00year + currents hitting 180 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 00year + currents hitting 225 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 00year + currents hitting 270 deg.
Comb+ ( Wind + wave ) 1 00year + currents hitting 315 deg.

Numerical Results
Structural analysis has been performed to the platform under the platform
status of configuration and loadings combination.
In this study, the wave direction is taken as "positive X direction" and
discusses the straining action on two legs in the wave direction.
The computer analysis results which
discuss Bending Moment "M3-3, M2-2" and
Normal Force "N.F" and Displacement "U1,
U2",for jacket "leg A, leg B" as in the
following Figures.

//

Displacement Response of the Structure

To have a better understanding of the behavior over the entire height of
the platform jacket, the analysis was conducted for a 110 ft water depth
for the maximum wind and wave forces and hitting by current with
different angles.
It should be noted that the response considered are displacement in
global X- direction; U1 and Y direction; U2; U1 dominated by the first sway
mode of vibration in wave direction; while the deformation; U2 dominated
by second sway mode of vibration.
The displacement responses attain its peak values for the coincidence of
the wave, current and wind directions, decrease as the current direction
deviate from the wave incidence direction.
Large inter-story drift of the jacket leg is not allowed for the jacket
platform to satisfy the drilling and production requirements. Both the
maximum deck acceleration and the maximum Deck to top of jacket
displacement were important response parameters affecting the
performance of equipment, vessels, and pipelines.

20
0
10

Level, ft

Displacement U1 for leg A&B with respect to jacket levels for 1-year.

Displacem ent, mm

-2
-20

U-1 A "DL"

-40

U-1 A " DL+LL"

U-1 A"COMB+W1+0CUR"

-60

U-1 A "COMB+W1+45CUR"
U-1 A " COMB+W1+90CUR"

-80

U-1 A "COMB+W1+135CUR"
U-1 A"COMB+W1+180CUR"

-100

Leg A

U-1 A"COMB+W1+270 CUR"

U-1 A"COMB+W1+315 CUR"

-120

20
0
10

Displaceme nt, mm

Level, ft

U-1 A "COMB+W1+225 CUR"

-2
-20

U-1 B " DL "

-40

U-1 B " DL+LL"

U-1 B " COMB+W1+0CUR"

-60

U-1 B "COMB+W1+45CUR"
U-1 B "COMB+W1+90CUR"

-80

U-1 B"COMB+W1+135CUR"
U-1 B"COMB+W1+180CUR"
U-1 B "COMB+W1+225 CUR"
U-1 B "COMB+W1+270 CUR"
U-1 B "COMB+W1+315 CUR"

-100

Leg B

-120

The displacement response, U1 increases nonlinearly with the

height of the platform jacket.

//

Displacement U2 for leg A&B with respect to jacket levels for 1-year.
20
0
1.6

1.2

0.8

0.4

Displacement, mm

-0.4

-0.8

-1.2

-1.6

-20

U-2 A" D.L"

U-2 A" D.L+L.L"
U-2 A"COMB+W1+0 CURR"

-40

U-2 A"COMB+W1+45 CUR"

U-2 A"COMB+W1+90 CUR"
U-2 A"COMB+W1+135 CUR"
U-2 A"COMB+W1+180 CUR"
U-2 A"COM+W1+225 CUR"

-60

Level, ft

-80

U-2 A"COMB+W1+270 CUR"

U-2 A"COMB+W1+315 CUR"

-100

Leg A

-120

20
0
1.6

1.2

0.8

0.4

B" D.L"
B" D.L+L.L"
B"COMB+W1+0 CURR"
B"COMB+W1+45 CUR"
B"COMB+W1+90 CUR"
B"COMB+W1+135 CUR"
B"COMB+W1+180 CUR"
B"COM+W1+225 CUR"
B"COMB+W1+270 CUR"
B"COMB+W1+315 CUR"

-0.8

-1.2

-1.6

-2

-40
-60
-80

Level, ft

U-2
U-2
U-2
U-2
U-2
U-2
U-2
U-2
U-2
U-2

-0.4
-20

Displacement, mm

-100

Leg B

-120

Level, ft

Displacement U1 for leg A&B with respect to jacket levels for 100-year.
20
0
18

16

14

12

10

Displacement, mm

-2
-20

U-1 A "DL"

-40

U-1 A " DL+LL"

U-1 A "COMB+W100+0CUR"

-60

U-1 A"COMB+W100+45CUR"
U-1 A"COMB+W100+90CUR"

-80

U-I A"COMB+W100+135CUR"
U-1 A"COMB+W100+180CUR"
U-1 A"COMB+W100+225 CUR"

-100

Leg A

U-1 A"COMB+W100+315 CUR"

-120

20
0
18

16

14

12

10

Level, ft

U-1 A"COMB+W100+270 CUR"

-2
-20

Dispalcement, mm
U-1 B " DL "

-40

U-1 B " DL+LL"

U-1 B"COMB+W100+0CUR"

-60

U-1 B"COMB+W100+45CUR"
U-1 B "COMB+W100+90 CUR

-80

U-1 B "COMB+W100+135CUR"
U-1 B"COMB+W100+180CUR"

-100

U-1 B"COMB+W100+225CUR"
U-1 B"COMB+W100+270CUR"
U-1 B"COMB+W100+315 CUR"

Leg B

-120

//

Displacement U2 for leg A&B with respect to jacket levels for 100-year.
20
0
3

2.5

1.5

0.5

Displacement, mm

-0.5

-1

-1.5

-2

-2.5

-3

-20

U-2 A" D.L"

-40

U-2 A" D.L+L.L"

U-2 A"COMB+W100+0 CURR"

-60

U-2 A"COMB+W100+45 CUR"

U-2 A"COMB+W100+90 CUR"

-80

U-2 A"COMB+W100+135 CUR"

Level, ft

U-2 A"COMB+W100+180 CUR"

-100

U-2 A"COM+W100+225 CUR"

U-2 A"COMB+W100+270 CUR"

-120

U-2 A"COMB+W100+315 CUR"

Leg A

20
0
3

2.5

1.5

0.5

Displaceme nt, mm

-0.5

-1

-1.5

-2

-2.5

-3

-20
-40

U-2 B" D.L"

U-2 B" D.L+L.L"
U-2 B"COMB+W100+0 CURR"

-60

U-2 B"COMB+W100+45 CUR"

U-2 B"COMB+W100+90 CUR"

-80

U-2 B"COMB+W100+135 CUR"

Level, ft

U-2 B"COMB+W100+180 CUR"

U-2 BA"COM+W100+225 CUR"
U-2 B"COMB+W100+270 CUR"
U-2 B"COMB+W100+315 CUR"

-100

Leg B

-120

From analysis results, it can be observed that the critical nodes for
displacement responses are at jacket - deck connection and at jacket
level (+10 ft).
U3-AI

Node A1
A1

16

14

13

12

11

10

The results indicate

a significant effect of
the current incidence
direction.

Node E2
E2

Node B1
B1

0.008
0.004

15

U3-BI

0.012

0.000
17

U2-B1

0.016

Load comb.

18

U1-B1

0.020

D is p la c e m e n t , m

U2-A1

D is p la c em e nt , m

U1-A1

0.016
0.012
0.008
0.004

Load Comb.
0.000
18

17

16

15

14

13

12

11

10

-0.004

-0.004

-0.008

-0.008

-0.012

-0.012

//

Deformation shape of top of jacket (plan at level +10

+10 ft)

(a) Load Combination No. 11

(e) Load Combination No. 15

(b) Load Combination No. 12

(c) Load Combination No. 13

(d) Load Combination No. 14

(f) Load Combination No. 16

(g) Load Combination No. 17

(h) Load Combination No. 18

Bending Moment Response of the Structure

A comparison of the maximum bending moments (M3-3, M2-2) at critical
nodal points.
As the bending moment is generally concentrated at the connection
points between the different structural systems.
The biggest value can be expected to occur at the top of the structure.
The bending moment at node A1 due to 100 year wave show an inverse
pattern compared to those at node A2 (i.e., the maximum value
decreases).
This phenomenon can be explained because the node A1 locates at
deck jacket level at member span, while the node A2 locate at connection
joint.
the moment direction at both nodes has opposite direction, so the wave
loading has inverse effect on the peak values response.

//

M 3-3

M 2-2

Bending moment
response for leg A & B with
respect to jacket levels
for 100-year extreme for
load combination (DL + LL
+ Wave 100 + 0o Current).
It displays the shape of
bending moment along
jacket and the changes of
its direction to able to
fixed risers along it and if
needing extension for the
platform.
It is important in the
design of platform leg to
determine the location of
maximum bending moment
because
the
jacket
diameter wall thickness can
be reduced below locations
of maximum stresses.

3-3

For 100 year

2-2

For 100 year

//

Axial Force Response of the Structure

In the following Figure shows a comparison of the maximum axial force
at critical nodal points along jacket height with different load combination.
It is important in the design of platform legs to determine the location of
maximum normal force because the jacket diameter wall thickness can be
reduced below locations of maximum stresses.

Normal force with respect to jacket levels for 100100-year safety

Leg A

Leg B

//

Conclusions
and
recommend future extension of
present research

Summary
Safe and cost effective design of offshore platforms depends to a large
extent on the correct assessment of response demands which is expected to
be encountered by the structures during its life span.
The structure as a whole needs to withstand extreme design conditions. It
is crucial to reduce the overall response of a jacket platform subjected to
environment loads.
In general, the reduction of dynamic stress amplitude of an offshore
structure by 15% can extend the service life over two times, and can result in
decreasing the expenditure on the maintenance and inspection of the
structure.
The aim of this study is to improve the understanding of the effects of
wave loadings with the current incidence angle variation on the response of
fixed jacket platforms.
platforms. Finite element analyses have been used to simulate
response series.
series.
A finite element formulation has been developed for the nonlinear
response of a fixed offshore platform jacket. Where, three-dimensional beam
element incorporating large displacement, time dependent wave forces is
considered.
Offshore platform jacket displacement, axial forces, bending moments, and
natural modes and frequencies of free vibration are evaluated

//

Conclusions
The jacket-deck level (+12.5 ft) and the first horizontal brace level of
jacket (+10 ft) show maximum stresses and displacement demands
from wave action for working and construction stage.
A comparison of the maximum displacement at all nodal points for
various current incidence angles indicates a significant effect of the
current incidence direction. The maximum platform displacement in
the wave direction is 1.0 cm and 1.8 cm at jacket deck level for 1
year and 100 year return period wave and wind loadings, respectively.
The displacement responses attain its peak values for the coincidence
of the wave, current and wind directions, decrease as the current
direction deviate from the wave incidence direction.
The displacement response, U1 increases nonlinearly with the height
of the platform jacket and display fundamental mode of deformation,
but there is a significant curvature to the displacement response, U2
along the platform height and displays higher mode of deformation.

Conclusions
The deformation shape for the horizontal plane of jacket (level +10 ft)
changes in irregular movement with different current orientation
angels from (0.00o to 360o) for wave extreme values.
Both the maximum deck acceleration and the maximum Deck to top of
jacket displacement are important response parameters affecting the
performance of equipment, vessels, and pipelines.
o low maximum deck acceleration was desirable for the vessels and
equipment,
o but, a small deck-to-top of shaft displacement was desirable for
the risers and caissons.
The bending moment at nodes in jacket deck level due to wave action
show an inverse pattern compared to those at nodes in the first
horizontal brace level of jacket (i.e., the maximum value decreases).
The splash zone area between (0, +12.5ft) must be inspected
continuously and protect it from corrosion by rubber covering or
protective paints to prevent reduction of jacket legs thickness to
extend platform service life time.

//

Recommend Future Extension of Present Research

For producing oil and gas in deep and ultra-deep waters reaching
more than 1000 m water depth, the use of floating-type offshore
structures is required. An extension of the present study to consider
different types of offshore structures.
it is interesting to note that they commonly give rise to highly
nonlinear structural consequences in terms of geometric
nonlinearity associated with buckling and material nonlinearity
together with various other parameters of influence such as
temperature, strain rate, fabrication related initial imperfections and
age-related degradation.
Earthquake Response of Offshore Structures With SoilStructures
Interaction
Studying the straining action and the responses for compliant
platforms as the demand of these structures will be more in the
future in Egypt and all over the world.