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ABS Provides New
Guidance on Building and Classing TLPs and Spars
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“We
address the comprehensive effects of environmental
loads on an overall platform and its components.”
Tuanjie Liu, ABS Engineer
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ABS
addresses global performance issues in supplement to Guide
on Building, Classing Floating Production Installations
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ocused on safe operation of tension leg
platforms (TLPs) and spars and in response to |
emerging technological advances, ABS has published additional
guidance on building and classing these specialized deepwater
floating production units. The guidance comes in the form of
a supplement to the ABS
Guide for Building and Classing Floating Production Installations
(FPI).
In developing the supplement, ABS has applied its extensive
knowledge and experience in classing TLPs and spars while
emphasizing the global performance issues and motion characteristics
unique to these floating structures, says Ernesto Valenzuela,
Manager, Offshore Technology.
“We believe the critical evaluation applied in the
development of this supplement, together with future inspections,
will assist industry in reducing the risk of possible installation
losses and avoiding potential production shutdowns due to
component failure on a unit,” said Valenzuela.
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He adds that the intrinsic value to the customer is improved integrity
of the structure and reduced operational risk.
“Through classification of these units, the customer has
the long-term benefit of unified design criteria for follow-up inspections
and surveys to ensure the reliability of the unit,” said Valenzuela.
There are presently 20 TLPs and 10 spars installed worldwide,
with an estimated 20 new TLPs and another 30 spars expected over
the next decade. Of the units installed, ABS has been involved with
the classification review of 13 of the TLPs and all of the spars.
While the existing FPI Guide addresses column-stabilized units
and other types of floaters, the supplement addresses the structural
performance and demands specifically associated with TLPs and spars.
Key areas of emphasis include global performance requirements, load
and environmental issues, stability parameters and structural strength
criteria.
Representing an industry-first in FPI classification, advises
Tuanjie Liu, ABS engineer, the supplement requires that owners of
these units perform global performance analyses to fully address
the comprehensive effects of environmental loads on an overall platform
and its components. Loading and response predictions for each component
can be completed separately or in an integrated form.
“We anticipate that this level of investigation will assist
owners in verifying the safe design of their floating systems, particularly
in terms of the mooring and riser systems design unique to TLPs
and spars,” said Liu.
For more information, visit the ABS newsroom at:
http://www.eagle.org/news/press/nov1903.html.
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