Abstract

This paper presents the methodology and results of the model tests in details, and also addresses how to apply their findings to guide various phases of the floatover operations, thus ensuring the success of this challenging floatover installation, performed on May 23, 2013, in the deep water and harsh environment of the northern South China Sea. The findings of the model test runs, such as six-degrees-of-freedom motions and accelerations of the topsides and the floatover barge, movements of LMU mating cones, impact loads on LMUs, DSUs, and fenders, tensions of mooring lines and softlines, etc., were discussed and analyzed in details. These test results can also be used to further study complexity of the contact mechanics of floatover hardware and time-domain nonlinear simulations of floatover installations.

Keywords:
subsea system, softline, test result, floatover installation, floatover barge, numerical simulation, upstream oil & gas, prototype, impact load, floatover operation
Subjects:
Offshore Facilities and Subsea Systems, Information Management and Systems, Mooring systems, Installation equipment and techniques
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2014. International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers
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