OTCD-ROM DOCUMENT REPORT

OTC 3750

TEMPORARY SEAFLOOR SUPPORT OF JACKET STRUCTURES

Steven C. Helfrich, Alan G. Young, and Clarence J. Ehlers,

McClelland Engineers, Inc.

Copyright 1980 Offshore Technology Conference

This paper was presented at the 12th Annual OTC in Houston, Tex.,
May 5-8, 1980. The material is subject to correction by the
author. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not
more than 300 words.

ABSTRACT

Prior to foundation pile installation, offshore jacket structures

require temporary seafloor support provided by the jacket leg
extensions, lowest level of horizontal bracing, and mud mats.
Since the leg extensions are the first foundation element to
contact the seafloor, the designer must first select their length
to assure full penetration. A second design consideration
requires an analysis to determine the amount of support provided
by the jacket leg extensions and lowest horizontal bracing. If
additional support is needed, mud mats must be provided and
designed based on the bearing capacity of the seafloor soils.

This paper recommends rational design procedures for the various

foundation elements in contact with the seafloor. Additional
sections describe design loadings and suggested factors of
safety. Finally, five case histories are given illustrating the
validity of the recommended procedures and highlighting potential
problems caused by inadequate designs.

INTRODUCTION

Offshore jacket structures must be temporarily supported by the

near-seafloor soils before driving of the foundation piles. The
foundation elements that bear on the seafloor soils include the
jacket leg extensions, lowest level of horizontal bracing, and
mud mats if needed (see Fig. 1). All these foundation elements
must be designed to support the weight of the jacket plus any
additional loads imposed by environmental or construction
conditions. The purpose of this paper is to recommend analytical
procedures to compute: (1) the soil resistance developed on the
jacket leg extensions, and (2) the ultimate bearing capacity
provided by the soils supporting the mud mats and lowest level of
horizontal bracing. Several case histories illustrate the
validity of the proposed analytical methods and highlight
potential problems that may occur during installation when
foundations are not designed adequately.

To achieve a safe yet economical design, the structural and

geotechnical engineers must coordinate their activities in sizing