17.

TLP, SPAR, DDF

Overview of concepts Multi-column deep draft

floaters

Tension leg platforms Risers for TLPs, spars and

other deep draft floaters

Spar platforms
Tension leg platforms and Deep
Draft Floaters
TLP Mini-TLP Classic Spar Truss Spar MC DDF

Concept drivers: Water depth, good motions, dry trees

 17. TLP, SPAR, DDF

Overview of concepts Multi-column deep draft

floaters

Tension leg platforms Risers for TLPs, spars and

other deep draft floaters

Spar platforms
 Tension leg platform (TLP)

• TLP is connected to a fixed

foundation by pre-tensioned
tendons
• TLP tendon (tension leg,
tether) is the mooring system
• The tendons acting in
tension and restrain heave,
pitch and roll
• The tendons also ensure
stability
• The platform is compliant in
surge, sway and yaw
• TLP foundation serve as
anchoring of the tendons
• TLP hull consists of buoyant
columns, pontoons
 Tendon design
Components at the platform interface:
• Connect the tensioned tendon to the platform
• Monitor and adjust a prescribed level of
tension to the tendon
• Transfer side actions and absorb bending
moments or rotations of the tendon

Tendon components:
• Tendon elements (tubulars, solid rods etc.)
• Connections of couplings along the length
(threads, clamps, bolted flanges etc.)
• Welded joints or other types of connections
• Ensure high fatigue capacity

Tendon components at the foundation:

• Connect the tendon to the foundation
• Transfer side actions and absorb bending
moments or rotations of the tendon
History of Tension Leg Platforms
TLP platform

Design parameters
– Water depth
– Waves
– Currents
– Wind
– Tide
– Earthquakes
– Ice and snow
– Icebergs
– Geotechnical
– Temperature
 Response of TLP

Dynamic response due to wave loading:

• Wave Frequency responses with period in the

same range as the main wave energy

• High Frequency responses near heave, roll

and pitch eigenperiods

• Low Frequency (LF) responses near surge,

sway and yaw eigenperiods.

• Ringing is high frequency resonant response

induced by transient loads from high, steep
waves

• Springing is high frequency resonant

response induced by cyclic (steady state) in
low to moderate seastate
Tension leg platform
Hull design objectives

• Minimize of dynamic tension leg loads

(fatigue and ultimate loading)
• Minimize dynamic amplification of
responses in general – avoid fatigue
• Minimize hull steel weight
• Minimize needs for ballast – control of CoG
• Avoid riser/hull interference
• Minimize riser stroke
• Efficient structural support of topsides
• Stability in all construction, transportation
and installation phases
• Positive air gap under all storm conditions
• No slack in tension legs
• Robustness for accidental events (tendon
failure etc.)
Satellite wells Hull
Tension legs Oil storage
tethers/tendons

Risers/wells

Export riser

Oil pipeline

Anchor foundations

Well template

Satellite wells
Many different concepts
 Top-tensioned
risers for TLP
• Low relative vertical motions allow
for dry Xmas tree

• Risers have a tensioning device at

the top and a moment controlling
device and a connector at the
bottom

• The tensioning device may allow

relative vertical motion between
the riser and the platform

• Flexible jumpers transfer the

wellstream to the topside
production facilities

• The subsea connector provides a

seal between the removable riser
and the subsea well or pipeline
 Heidrun

Snorre A
Steel catenary
risers (SCR)

Oil export
Gas export Top tensioned risers

SCR
Natural periods of heave responses
Critical area
 Dynamic amplification factor
damping
6,00 ratio

5,00
soft stiff
0,1
0,15
4,00
0,2
DAF

3,00 0,25
0,3
2,00
0,35
1,00 0,4

0,00
0,20 0,70 1,20 1,70 2,20 2,70

T/To

Soft: load period << eigenperiod => reduced response

Stiff: load period >> eigenperiod => quasi static response
Heave motion of tension leg platform

Heave
m
The natural period for heave motion is: To = 2
Model k
m is the total mass, including hydrodynamic (added) mass
k is the “stiffness” corresponding to heave motion

By definition k = F/z, where F is the restoring force

corresponding to the displacement z. Then:
VVVVV k = EAt/d, where:

E is the modulus of elasticity (Young’s modulus)

At is the total cross sectional area of all tension legs
d is the length of the tension legs
md
To = 2
E At

A TLP is stiff wrt heave!

Pitch and roll of tension leg platform

Roll and pitch m

The natural period for pitch/roll motion is: To = 2r
k
m is the total mass of the platform
r is the radius of gyration (r2=I/m), where I is the mass
Model moment of inertia of the platform
k is the “rotational stiffness” corresponding to pitch/roll
VVVVV

VVVVV
By definition k = M/q, where M is the restoring (righting)
moment corresponding to the rotational angle q. Then:
k = EAtb2/4d, where:

E is the modulus of elasticity (Young’s modulus)

At is the total cross sectional area of all tension legs
r md d is the length of the tension legs
To = 4 b is the distance between the tension legs
b E At

A TLP is stiff wrt pitch and roll!

 Surge and sway motion of tension leg platform

Surge and sway The natural period for surge/sway is: To = 2

m
k
Model m is the total mass, including hydrodynamic
(added) mass
k is the “stiffness” corresponding to surge/sway

By definition k = F/x, where F is the restoring force

corresponding to the displacement x. Then:
k = Po/d, where:

Po is the total pre-tension of all tension legs

d is the length of the tension legs
md
To = 2
Po

x, F P0

A TLP is soft wrt surge, sway and

yaw motions! d F/P0=x/d
Surge/sway combined with set-down

Natural period, To

FH = Po sin a = Po x/d =k x
Po ~ rgAwH/2
”set-down” k = Po/d = rgAwH/2d
To = 2(2md/ rgAwH)0,5
FH - horizontal re-storing force
Po - pre-tension of tension legs
x - horizontal motion
a H - wave height
m - platform mass (total mass incl.
“added” mass)
Aw - water-plane area
d - length of tension legs
k - stiffness
To - natural period

A TLP is soft wrt surge, sway and yaw motions!

Wave forces below wave crest
dynamic wave pressure decreasing downwards

Through surface body

up-ward force

Tension leg platform

Columns: through surface
Pontoons: submerged

Submerged body
down-ward force
 Wave slamming (impact)
Illustration of free oscillations
with light damping

Wave slamming may induce transient oscillations (vibrations) as illustrated. The

phenomenon has been observed for both tension leg platforms and tall fixed
platforms and has been referred to as “ringing”. Typical period of the oscillations
may be of the order of 3-5 seconds, ref pitch/roll.
 Model testing challenges – deep water
• Minimum scale for full system testing 1:150 – 1:170 i.e. down to 1000 – 1200m wd
• Hybrid testing, i.e. combination of truncated model tests and numerical extrapolations established
and in use
• Large scale outdoor testing (fjord testing) have been demonstrated
– Useful for research on particular effects, but high costs and non-controllable environment
Installation phases for tension leg platform
1. Deck on barge

2. Hull submerged
before mating

3. Deck mating
5. Hook-up of tension legs

4. Deck mating complete

Construction/installation of a TLP
Flex-joint

Tension leg (tether)

Anchor
Tension leg elements

• Tendon Top Connector

• FlexJoint® Tendon Bearing

• RotoLatch™ Tendon Bottom connector

Heidrun – Production start 1995
Heidrun – Installation of modules
Heidrun – tow-out
Snorre A - TLP
 Typical GOM TLP

See Topside frame - Tether porches - Anodes

 Olympus – Mars B

• The Olympus TLP is Shell’s sixth and largest tension leg platform
• The production capacity is 100 kboe
• Shell has standardized TLP design and reduced cost and schedule
TLP drilling and WHP
Kizomba Angola
 Three-legged TLP
possible advantages

• The three-legged TLP is a statically determined system, while the four-legged TLP is
statically undetermined.
• With a three-legged structure, an equal distribution of tension naturally takes place. It is
therefore easier to achieve the required even distribution of tension.
• For the same reason, the platform is also less sensitive to foundation settlement and creep
effects.
• For a four-legged TLP there is a design challenge for the pontoons as well as for the topside
structures to secure sufficient resistance against column split forces in cases with diagonal
seas – risk of fatigue damage.
Alternative shapes
Mini TLPs
 Typhoon – GoM

Platform “Typhoon” was

taken out by typhoon “Rita”

Hurricane Rita caused more

damage to oil rigs than any
other storm in history. When
the storm cleared, more than
100 oil platforms and rigs had
been damaged or destroyed.
Thirteen had been dragged as
much as 140 miles or more
from their original locations, or
were lost altogether.
Brutus, GoM

Mars, GoM –
after hurricane
Tension leg platform (TLP)
Summary
– Well-known, but fine-tuned
hull/mooring configuration
– Complex dynamic behavior
– Suitable for deep water
– Platform wells
– Top-tensioned (exposed)
rigid risers
– Comprehensive marine operations
– At-shore installation of topsides
– No oil storage
 17. TLP, SPAR, DDF

Overview of concepts Multi-column deep draft

floaters

Tension leg platforms Risers for TLPs, spars and

other deep draft floaters

Spar platforms
Spar platform

Design parameters
– Water depth
– Waves
– Currents
– Wind
– Tide
– Earthquakes
– Ice and snow
– Icebergs
– Geotechnical
– Temperature
 The classic Spar
• A spar is a deep-draft floating
caisson similar to a very large buoy.
Its major systems are hull, moorings,
topsides, and risers.

• The spar relies on a traditional

mooring system (spread mooring) to strakes
maintain its position. About 90
percent of the structure is
underwater.

• The spar design is being used for

drilling, production, or both.

• The deep-draft hull produce very

favourable motion characteristics.

• Low motions and a protected centre-

well also provide an excellent
configuration for risers and
deepwater operations.

• Water depth capability has been

stated by industry as ranging up to
2500 - 3000m.
Classic SPAR Truss SPAR Cell SPAR ”North Sea” SPAR
Spar platform
Hull design objectives

• Minimize riser stroke

• Avoid damaging riser/hull
interference
• Minimize hull steel weight
• Avoid vortex induced motions
• Structural support of topsides
• Minimize offshore hook-up work
• Positive air gap
 The Truss Spar
• The first Spars were based on the Classic
design. This evolved into the Truss Spar by
replacing the lower section of the caisson hull
with a truss.

• The Truss Spar is divided into three distinct

sections:
– The cylindrical upper section, called the “hard
tank,” provides most of the in-place buoyancy for
the Spar.
– The middle truss section supports the heave plates
and provides hydrodynamic damping and
separation between the keel tank and hard tank.
– The keel tank, also known as the “soft tank,”
contains the fixed ballast and acts as a natural
hang-off location for export pipelines and flowlines
since the environmental influences from waves and
currents and associated responses are less
pronounced there than nearer the water line.

• The topsides configurations follow typical fixed

platform design practices.
 Vortex shedding
• Vortex shedding is an unsteady flow that takes place in special flow
velocities (according to the size and shape of the cylindrical body). The fluid
flow past the object creates alternating low-pressure vortices on the
downstream side of the object. The object will tend to move toward the
low-pressure zone.

• Eventually, if the frequency of vortex shedding matches the resonance

frequency of the structure, the structure will begin to resonate and the
structure's movement can become self-sustaining.

• The frequency (f) at which vortex shedding takes place for a cylinder is
related to the Strouhal number (St) by the following equation:
– St = f D/u, where D is cylinder diameter and u is current velocity

– The corresponding period is T = 1/f

– For a cylindrical structure in water T ~ 5D/u

• Strakes (corkscrew fins) can be used to deliberately introduce turbulence,

so that the load is less variable, and resonant load frequencies have
negligible amplitudes.
History of Spar platforms
SPAR Risers
Installation phases for Spar platform

Installation of deck
Ready for operation

Hull in horizontal position

Heave motion of free floating platform
m
The natural period for heave motion is: To = 2
k
Heave Model m is the total mass, including hydrodynamic (added)
mass
k is the “stiffness” corresponding to heave motion

By definition k = F/z, where F is the restoring force

corresponding to the displacement z. Then:
k = rgAw, where:
VVVVV
r is the density of sea water
g is the acceleration of gravity
m Aw is the water plane area of the hull
To = 2
rgAw
Pitch and roll of free floating platform
Roll and pitch
m
The natural period for pitch/roll motion is: To = 2r
k
Model m is the total mass of the platform
r is the radius of gyration (r2=I/m), where I is the mass
moment of inertia of the platform
VVVVVV k is the “rotational stiffness” corresponding to pitch/roll

By definition k = M/q, where M is the restoring (righting)

VVVV
moment corresponding to the rotational angle q. Then:
k = GM m g, where:

GM is the metacentre height of the platform

2r
To = g is the acceleration of gravity
g GM
 Surge and sway motion of moored
floating platform
m
Surge and sway The natural period for surge/sway is: To = 2
k
Model m is the total mass, including hydrodynamic
(added) mass
k is the “stiffness” of the mooring system
VVVVVVVVVV
 Aasta Hansteen – Norwegian Sea
• World’s largest spar – and NCS first

• Harsh weather conditions

• Water depth 1350 m

• Spar-platform with condensate storage

• Steel catenary risers

• Polyester mooring

• Process capacity 23 MSm3/day

• Margins included to serve as future hub

• Gas export through Polarled to Nyhamna (480 km)

 Substructure:
• Weight: 46.000 ton
Aasta Hansteen • Hight: 200 m
• Diameter: 50 m
Spar platform
Summary
– Proven technology
– Limited deck area
– Conventional mooring
– Suitable for deep water
– Complex dynamic behavior, including
vortex induced vibrations (VIV)
– Platform wells
– Buoyancy top-tensioned rigid risers
– Risers protected in wave zone,
“ice protection”
– Complex marine operations (can be
reduced by inshore mating)
– Possibility for some oil storage,
but not tried
 17. TLP, SPAR, DDF

Overview of concepts Multi-column deep draft

floaters

Tension leg platforms Risers for TLPs, spars and

other deep draft floaters

Spar platforms
Deep Draft Floater
(DDF)
multi-column structure
Characteristics:
 Multi-column structure
 Increased draft compared to a
classical SEMI
 Subsea or dry trees
 Large number of risers
 Large topside area
 Good motion characteristics
 Storage possible
 Spread mooring

Deepwater Challenges:
 Riser system, import & export
 feasibility
 increased weight
 large diameter export riser
 Mooring system, increased
weight
 Fabrication, transportation &
installation
Deep draft floater
(multicolumn hull)
Hull design objectives

• Minimize riser stroke

• Minimize hull steel weight
• Avoid damaging riser/hull
interference
• Avoid vortex induced motions
• Structural support of topsides
• Minimize offshore hook-up work
• Positive air gap
Deep Draft Floaters
alternative shapes
 The first Deep Draft Floater
• ATP Titan, the first deepwater dry tree drilling and production hull
built in the US is installed in 1200 m of water to service the
Telemark Hub in the Gulf of Mexico, which consists of three
fields: Mirage, Morgus and Telemark
• ATP selected the MinDOC for its light weight, cost-effective,
deepwater design, which looks like a semisubmersible but
behaves like a spar in terms of stability and dynamic response to
waves. It provides a higher load capacity and enhances stability
over previously designed semisubmersibles or spars.
• Its risers are tensioned by a hydraulic system rather than air cans
or buoyancy cans commonly used on spars. It incorporates six
dry tree wellheads with three pairs of future subsea flowlines.
The platform supports full drilling capability, and a processing
capacity of 25,000 b/d of oil and 50 MMcf/d of natural gas, with
expansion to 100 MMcf/d of natural gas.
Deep Draft Floater (DDF)
Summary
– New technology
– Conventional mooring
– Suitable for deep water
– Complex dynamic behavior
– Platform wells
– Top-tensioned (exposed) rigid
risers, riser stroke
– Limited marine operations
– At-shore installation of topsides
– Possibility for oil storage
 17. TLP, SPAR, DDF

Overview of concepts Multi-column deep draft

floaters

Tension leg platforms Risers for TLPs, spars and

other deep draft floaters

Spar platforms
Alternative riser arrangements
Top tensioned risers for
TLP, Spar and DDF
Top tensioned risers
New light weight materials

Carbon fibers have several

advantages including high
stiffness, high tensile
strength, low weight, high
chemical resistance, high
temperature tolerance and
low thermal expansion.
Riser hang-off arrangement
 Riser – hull interface

• Flex joint

• Keel joint
Riser stroke

The riser stroke capacity must be

sufficient in extreme weather
conditions as well as in damage
conditions, i.e. loss of buoyancy, loss of
mooring line
Vortex induced vibrations in risers
• Vortex shedding is an unsteady flow
that takes place in special flow
velocities (according to the size and
shape of the cylindrical body).

• The fluid flow past the riser creates

alternating low-pressure vortices on the
downstream side of the object. The
riser will tend to move toward the low-
pressure zone.

• For a cylindrical structure in water the

vortex shedding period is T ~ 5D/u
Span-wise vortex
shedding on a riser • Strakes (corkscrew fins) can be used to
deliberately introduce turbulence, so
that the load is less variable, and
resonant load frequencies have
negligible amplitudes
Steel Catenary Risers (SCR)
often preferred as export risers

Challenges
•soil-structure interaction
•vortex induced vibrations (VIV)
•upper termination (stress-/flex joint)
•welding procedures
 SCR FlexJoint (example)
• Deepwater development has been accompanied by an
increasing demand on Steel Catenary Risers (SCR) to
meet greater load requirements and more hostile
operating environments.

– The FlexJoint dramatically reduces the motion-induced

stresses between a floating offshore facility and the riser.
– The FlexJoint may be used in either import or export riser
carrying gas, oil and/or water.
– Each FlexJoint is designed to meet the individual
requirements of the application.
– Capable of providing a free angular rotation of ±20° for a
single-ended FlexJoint or ±35° for a double-ended FlexJoint.
– Withstands operating pressures up to 10,000 psi (690 bar).
– Supports axial tensions up to 11,000 kips (5000 tones).

• The fundamental constituent of the FlexJoint is the

laminated flex element. The flex element is a molded
elastomeric bearing consisting of a series of spherical
shaped metal reinforcements laminated between and
encased by a proprietary elastomeric material.
10 Questions
1. Why must the vertical mooring lines on a TLP be pre-tensioned?
2. What is the set-down effect on a TLP?
3. Why has a Spar-platform such a deep draft?
4. How important are the tension legs for the stability of a TLP?
5. How important are the mooring lines for the stability of a Spar
platform?
6. What are the main design objectives for a TLP hull?
7. There are different opinions about the reliability and robustness of
different platform concepts. List some strengths and weaknesses of
a Spar platform.
8. What could be the advantages and disadvantages of a multi-column
DDF compared to a Spar or a TLP?
9. Explain how a top-tensioned rigid riser is designed?
10. The interaction between platform and risers are different for a TLP
and a Spar. How is it different?