OIL & GAS

Site-Specific Assessment of Jack-Ups

Part 1: Jack-Up Basics & Why We Do Site-Specific Assessments

Noble Denton marine services

Mike White
02 November 2016

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Overview

 What are we talking about?

 Why do Site-Specific Assessment Analyses (SSAAs)?

 Some jack-up basics.

 What do we assess?

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Definitions

A jack-up (or self-elevating platform) is a buoyant barge-like hull with legs which:
 Are raised above the hull to move from one location to another.
 Are lowered below the hull and founded on the seabed when operating to provide
a stable platform for offshore applications such as drilling, work-over, tender
assist, accommodation, wind turbine installation, etc., etc.

Figure: Age of drilling

jack-ups versus
year built.

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The First Salt-Water Jack-Up ?

William Arrol’s Tay Bridge jack-up - 1882

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The First O&G Jack-Up

Zapata Scorpion – LeTourneau - 1955

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Designs from 1970’s and 1980’s

LeTourneau 116-C Friede & Goldman L780 Mod II

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Designs from the 2010’s

KFELS N-Class GustoMSC CJ80-X175A

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Why do we do Site-Specific Assessment Analyses?

 Site parameters will differ from

design assumptions, e.g.:
– Wave height / Wind speed / Current.
– Leg penetration.
– Water depth.
– Airgap.
 Some aspects cannot be considered in design:
– Site-specific spudcan foundation stiffness
and load capacity.
– Regulator or hirer requirements differ
from those used for Classed approval.
– Environmental directionality.
– Changes in technology.
 Other:
– Required by Insurer or Hirer.
– Required by Marine Warranty Surveyor
(for insurance).

 To safeguard life, property and the environment.

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Site Values vs. Design Values in Marine Operations Manual

Air
WD WH Wind Curr gap
(m) (m) (m/s) (m/s) (m)

Design 91.4 23.8 51.5 1.03 18.3

Site 91.0 25.0 43.0 0.80 23.0

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 Some Jack-up Basics
Structural System

 A jack-up is a giant portal frame - it relies on the ability of the leg-to-hull

connection to carry bending moment:

BM
Pinned
Shear footing

ENVIRONMENTAL WEIGHT ENVIRONMENTAL WEIGHT

LOAD LOAD

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Foundation Fixity is the Key

 Fixity can roughly halve

the bending moment at
the hull.
BM BM
 Increase the sway WIND pinned fixed
stiffness by a factor of 4 Shear spudcan spudcan
and halve
the natural period. WAVE/CURRENT WEIGHT

 Dynamics are important

and a function of
foundation fixity.
 Foundation fixity can
reduce as loads increase
(due to yielding of the soil
under the spudcans).

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Design Variations - from the 1980’s

LeTourneau Gorilla Friede & Goldman

1983 L780 Mod V
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Typical Leg Configurations

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Pinions and Rack-Chocks (Fixation Systems)

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Transfer of Leg Bending Moment to Hull
W

RL = RR = M/W
RUG = RLG = M/L

Upper Guide
Reaction, RUG Pinion
Reaction, Pinion
H
RL Reaction,
Lower Guide RR
Reaction, RLG

M M

More moment carried by guides. More moment carried by pinions or

chocks.
Need strong braces (see next). Braces can be less strong.
Leg more robust. Leg less robust.
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A Softer Vertical Connection Makes Braces & Chords Work Harder

RUG

Compression
member
RLG
Tension member

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So Which Rig Is The More Capable ?

Jack-up on right has storm capability as good as the one on the left.
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What Do We Assess?

 Checks made on:

– Spudcan penetration & potential for punch-through or rapid penetration.
– Geometry.
– Overturning stability.
– Foundation strength.
– Structural strength.

 Typically rely on design stage / Class for:

– Strength of hull.
– Strength of spudcans.

 Typically rely on Class for:

– Condition of jack-up.

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Site-Specific Assessment Checks

 Checks made on:

– Penetration & punch-through
Reserve of leg
– Geometry above jack-
house

Air gap

Water depth

Leg penetration

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Site-Specific Assessment Checks

 Checks made on:

– Overturning stability

Wind
load

Weight
Wave & current Weight
load

Windward leg sliding ? Leeward leg settling ?

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Site-Specific Assessment Checks

 Checks made on:

Vertical
– Foundation strength. spudcan
load
 Install legs by preloading
to develop capacity to Foundation failure
envelope
resist storm loading. 1
 Preload proves vertical Preload
2
capacity only. Leeward
 Horizontal (and moment) leg(s)
Still-water
loads reduce vertical (static) load
Sliding limit
capacity.
2
 When capacity is exceeded
additional penetration will 1
Windward leg(s)
occur - and the capacity
envelope will (usually)
expand – with a range of Horizontal spudcan load
consequences.
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Site-Specific Assessment Checks

 Checks made on:

– Structural Strength.

Wind
load

Guide
Wave & reaction
current
load

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Conclusions

 History.
 Why we do SSAAs.
 Some jack-up basics.
 What we assess:
– Spudcan penetration & punch-through.
– Geometry.
– Overturning stability.
– Foundation strength.
– Structural strength.

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Questions?

www.dnvgl.com

SAFER, SMARTER, GREENER

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