ISO 19902:2007(E)

A.6.3.3 Structural configuration

A.6.3.3.1 General

No guidance is offered.

A.6.3.3.2 Deck elevation

A safety margin or air gap is required between the crest of the design wave and the lowest point (beam,
equipment or fixing) of the lowest deck of the platform such that abnormal wave crests do not impinge on the
deck. This is necessary, since very large actions can occur if a wave hits the deck. If there is insufficient deck
elevation, wave impact can determine the reliability of the structure. Where possible, deck height should be
chosen so that the frequency of wave impact on the deck is compatible with the target failure rate of the
structure. Structural reliability arguments indicate that air gaps selected in accordance with traditional
procedures should be increased or reduced, depending on the region in which the platform is located. The air
gap further ensures that green water does not interfere with platform operation or safety devices.

Any determination of the air gap should account for uncertainty in water depth, structure settlement, sea floor
subsidence, sea level rise, storm surge and tide, and abnormal wave crest elevation. The deck elevation can
be set by either of the following methods:

a) a rational process, using long-term surface elevation statistics and reliability considerations, going to
various levels of complexity; or

b) experience and judgment, if a rational approach is not possible.

Information on air gap requirements for certain geographical areas is given in Annex H.

Method a) above can be followed if the metocean database is sufficiently accurate and comprehensive.
Account may be taken of the joint probability of tide, surge height, and crest heights to estimate the maximum
surface elevation relative to the deck. In this case, a probability of non-exceedance close to the target failure
rate of the structure may be used with no additional air gap allowance added.

When method a) above is not appropriate, the deck elevation, h, above the mean sea level can be estimated
from Equation (A.6.3-1) or Equation (A.6.3-2).

If storm surge is not expected to occur at the same time as the abnormal wave crest, Equation (A.6.3-1)
applies:

h = a2 + s2 + t 2 + f (A.6.3-1)

If storm surge is expected to occur at the same time as the abnormal wave crest, Equation (A.6.3-2) applies:

h= (a + s)2 + t 2 + f (A.6.3-2)

where

a is the abnormal wave crest height;

s is the extreme storm surge;

t is the maximum elevation of the tide relative to the mean sea level;

f is the expected sum of subsidence, settlement and sea level rise over the design service life of the
structure.

© ISO 2007 – All rights reserved 273

ISO 19902:2007(E)

For deep and intermediate water depths a can be approximated to

a > 1,3 a100 (A.6.3-3)

a > a100 + 1,5 m (A.6.3-4)

where a100 is the extreme wave crest height with a return period of 100 years.

The estimate for h obtained with this procedure is indicative and suitable for conceptual design studies. The
owner should review the deck elevation prior to detailed design.

In general, no platform processing elements, piping, or equipment should be located below the lower deck in
the designated air gap. However, when it is unavoidable to position such items as minor sub-cellars, sumps,
drains, or production piping in the air gap, provisions should be made for the actions due to waves developed
on these items.

NOTE 1,5 m is the traditional value used for air gap but analysis of metocean data has shown that it does not always
allow sufficient reliability in certain geographical areas.

A.6.3.3.3 Equipment and material layouts

No guidance is offered.

A.6.3.4 Access and auxiliary systems

No guidance is offered.

A.6.4 Safety considerations

No guidance is offered.

A.6.5 Environmental considerations

A.6.5.1 General

No guidance is offered.

A.6.5.2 Selecting design metocean parameters and action factors

Worldwide experience of drilling and production structures supports the use of 100 year return metocean
parameters. The partial action and resistance factors recommended herein are intended for use in designing
the structure in accordance with this practice.

Where the recommended partial action factors are not used, the values used should be based on a risk and
reliability analysis. This analysis should include the estimated cost of the structure designed to resist actions
from environmental conditions using various action factors, the probability of damage or loss when subjected
to environmental conditions of various recurrence intervals, the financial loss due to damage or loss including
lost production, clean-up, structure and well replacement, etc. The reliability approach used to develop the
partial action and resistance factors is reasonable for such a study.

A.6.6 Exposure levels

A.6.6.1 General

Guidance in the following subclauses relates to life-safety and the consequences of platform loss. Life-safety
concerns personnel belonging to the normal complement of personnel on the platform. Consequences is a
broad notion, which includes factors such as the life-safety of personnel that are not part of the normal
complement of the platform (e.g. rescue personnel or those who might be brought in to clean up and make
safe a platform after an incident), damage to the environment and anticipated economic losses (see 6.6.3).

274 © ISO 2007 – All rights reserved