PETRONAS TECHNICAL STANDARDS

Foundation Stability of Jackup or MOPU

PTS 11.22.19
September 2015

© 2015 PETROLIAM NASIONAL BERHAD (PETRONAS)

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form
or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the permission of the copyright
owner. PETRONAS Technical Standards are Company’s internal standards and meant for authorized users only.
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FOREWORD

PETRONAS Technical Standards (PTS) has been developed based on the accumulated knowledge,
experience and best practices of the PETRONAS group supplementing National and International
standards where appropriate. The key objective of PTS is to ensure standard technical practice across
the PETRONAS group.

Compliance to PTS is compulsory for PETRONAS-operated facilities and Joint Ventures (JVs) where
PETRONAS has more than fifty percent (50%) shareholding and/or operational control, and includes
all phases of work activities.

Contractors/manufacturers/suppliers who use PTS are solely responsible in ensuring the quality of
work, goods and services meet the required design and engineering standards. In the case where

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specific requirements are not covered in the PTS, it is the responsibility of the

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Contractors/manufacturers/suppliers to propose other proven or internationally established
standards or practices of the same level of quality and integrity as reflected in the PTS.

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In issuing and making the PTS available, PETRONAS is not making any warranty on the accuracy or
completeness of the information contained in PTS. The Contractors/manufacturers/suppliers shall
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ensure accuracy and completeness of the PTS used for the intended design and engineering
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requirement and shall inform the Owner for any conflicting requirement with other international
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codes and technical standards before start of any work.

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PETRONAS is the sole copyright holder of PTS. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored
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in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, recording or
otherwise) or be disclosed by users to any company or person whomsoever, without the prior written
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consent of PETRONAS.
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The PTS shall be used exclusively for the authorised purpose. The users shall arrange for PTS to be
kept in safe custody and shall ensure its secrecy is maintained and provide satisfactory information to
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PETRONAS that this requirement is met.

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ANNOUNCEMENT

Please be informed that the entire PTS inventory is currently undergoing transformation exercise from
2013 - 2015 which includes revision to numbering system, format and content. As part of this change,
the PTS numbering system has been revised to 6-digit numbers and drawings, forms and requisition
to 7-digit numbers. All newly revised PTS will adopt this new numbering system, and where required
make reference to other PTS in its revised numbering to ensure consistency. Users are requested to
refer to PTS 00.01.01 (Index to PTS) for mapping between old and revised PTS numbers for clarity. For
further inquiries, contact PTS administrator at ptshelpdesk@petronas.com.my

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Table Of Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 5
1.1 SCOPE ............................................................................................................................ 5
1.2 GLOSSARY OF TERMS..................................................................................................... 5
1.3 1.3 SUMMARY OF CHANGES ......................................................................................... 6
2.0 GEOTECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................ 7
2.1 OVERTURNING MOMENT .............................................................................................. 7
2.2 LEG PENETRATION ANALYSIS......................................................................................... 7
2.3 SCOURING ...................................................................................................................... 7

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2.4 PRELOAD ........................................................................................................................ 7

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2.5 SEABED CONDITION....................................................................................................... 8

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3.0 PRESENT DESIGN METHODS .................................................................................. 9
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3.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 9
3.2 DESIGN BASIS AND ASSUMPTIONS FOR SOIL BEARING PRESSURE ............................... 9
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3.3 ASSESSMENT OF ROTATIONAL STIFFNESS OF FOUNDATION ...................................... 10

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3.4 PENETRATION AND PRELOAD CONSIDERATIONS ........................................................ 10

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3.5 PULL-OUT RESISTANCE AND MEASURES TO REDUCE IT.............................................. 10

4.0 INSTALLATION AND OPERATION PROCEDURES .................................................... 11
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4.1 SITE INVESTIGATION .................................................................................................... 11

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4.2 PENETRATION PREDICTION ......................................................................................... 11

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4.3 ELEVATION PRELOAD AND PULL-OUT PROCEDURES .................................................. 12

4.4 STABILITY CONSIDERATIONS ....................................................................................... 13
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5.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................... 14

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1.0 INTRODUCTION
This PTS specifies the different aspects of foundation design and stability for a jack up or
MOPU structures to curb the issues those constitutes common foundation failure mechanisms
during preload and operation.
This PTS provides additional requirements over and above the available international
standards and guidance on jack-up foundation, namely, SNAME T&R Bulletin 5-5A and ISO
19905-1.

1.1 SCOPE
This PTS is intended for use in designing and evaluation for stability of all jack-up or MOPU
units operating under the jurisdiction of PETRONAS assets.
For international waters, additional standard used as per local rules and regulations applies.

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1.2 GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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1.2.1 General Definition of Terms & Abbreviations

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Refer to PTS Requirements, General Definition of Terms, Abbreviations & Reading Guide PTS
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00.01.03 for General Definition of Terms & Abbreviations.
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1.2.2 Specific Definition of Terms

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No Terms Definition
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1 Preload The load applied to the jack-up foundation legs to

settle into its set location by filling up the ballast
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tanks prior to actual operation.

2 Punch-through Situations when the spud-can suddenly penetrates,
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in uncontrolled manner, a hard crust layer followed

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by a softer layer at the bottom or in case of the spud

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slipping into an old footprint left from previous

jack-up operations at the same locations.
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3 Jetting A system used to reduce the base adhesion or

suction force below the spud-cans during pull-out
or hard crust penetration.
Table 1: Specific Definition of Terms
1.2.3 Specific Abbreviations

No. Abbreviation Description

1 MOPU Mobile Offshore Production Units

2 ABS American Bureau of Shipping

3 BV Bureau Veritas

4 DnV Det Norske Veritas

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No. Abbreviation Description

5 GL Germanischer Lloyd

6 LR Lloyd’s Register

7 NKK Nippon Kaiji Kyokai

The Society of Naval Architects & Marine

8 SNAME
Engineers

9 FOS Factor of Safety

Table 2: Specific Abbreviations

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1.3 1.3 SUMMARY OF CHANGES

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This is a new PTS.

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2.0 GEOTECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The following sections define some of the general requirements related to foundation
stability.

2.1 OVERTURNING MOMENT

It is the disturbing moment generated at the foundation level by the action of environmental
loading during installation/ operation.
Factor of safety against overturning is defined as:
FOS = Stabilizing moment
Overturning moment
Depending on the design criteria the value of FOS varies within the regime of different loading

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conditions, e.g., operation, storm, extreme weather etc.

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2.2 LEG PENETRATION ANALYSIS

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The jack-up leg penetration depends on the soil condition at site and the jack-up/ MOPU
structures loading/ preloading. Based on the theoretical judgement and standard practice, it
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is customary to consider a minimum penetration of 3m with no fixity effect from the soil,
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unless specific observation for a particular location suggests otherwise.

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2.3 SCOURING
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Seabed scouring depends on local soil condition, slope and type of structures. Generally, in
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the absence of the details, this is catered by reducing 20% of the calculated bearing capacity.
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2.4 PRELOAD
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Any specification related to preloading procedures shall follow PTS 11.21.02 Site Specific
Assessment of Mobile Offshore Jack-Up Units (Amendment/Supplements to the SNAME
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Guideline & Recommended Practice).

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2.5 SEABED CONDITION

For seabed condition obtained from Side Scan Sonar, it is a location dependant parameter
which assumptions shall be made during the designing phase for the seabed condition
according to different Societies as listed below. The classification societies will base their
review on the assumptions given by the owner of from an all probable configuration approach.
Overturning Sea Bed
Requirement Leg Penetration Scouring Preload
F.O.S Condition
Gravity +
Considered pinned at 20” reduction Owner
ABS ‘Sufficient’ ovt
least 3 m below sea bed of area for mats assumption
moment
Extreme 1.3 Individual
BV -- To be studied ---
Normal 1.5 preload
Not stated practice:

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DnV 1.5 pinned at 3m below sea To be studied -- --

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bed

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GL 1.5, 1.3 1.1 -- -- -- --
All prob.

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LR -- -- To be examined --
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Assume pinned 3 m
NKK -- -- -- --
below sea bed
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Table 3: Summary of Requirements by Classification Societies

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3.0 PRESENT DESIGN METHODS

3.1 INTRODUCTION
The foundation system is designed to withstand and transfer the load into the seabed. The
vertical capacity should be ensured by applying the gravity preload. The combined effect of
horizontal environmental load and vertical gravity load may be partially catered by increasing
the preload level. The Jack-up foundation system at times also used as a buoyancy unit during
towing and hence, the design should also be checked for required hydrodynamics and
hydrostatics. The stability of foundation system being the most critical component in the
overall stability of the jack-up, a conservative approach should be practiced while structural
design of the foundation.

3.2 DESIGN BASIS AND ASSUMPTIONS FOR SOIL BEARING PRESSURE

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3.2.1 General

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In general, jack-up structures are designed according to general conditions and not a specific
location in which during the designing stage, magnitude and distribution of soil reaction

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pressure will be based on lU
i. Structural and Environmental Parameters
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ii. Weight and variable loads, applied preloads

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iii. Foundation shape and geometry, bearing area of the footing

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iv. Consideration of potential presence of local obstruction and variations in soil

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parameters
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3.2.2 Soil Pressure Ranges

An upper bound and lower bound ranges of soil types and corresponding parameters should
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be defined in order to assume reasonable soil pressure ranges for the areas of operation. From
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the geotechnical considerations the number of parameters involved is numerous and any soil
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pressure assumption will (for a specific location) lead to a penetration calculation which again
will require a great deal of assumption for each soil parameter during the design stage.
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3.2.3 Pressure Distribution

i. Individual Footing
As a conservative rationale and in order to equalize the preload level, the design
pressure on each individual leg should be taken as equal to the worst possible
case for one leg considering unsymmetric topside and environmental loading
effect.

ii. Mats
A linear distribution of soil reaction pressure should be considered as the basic
general approach with special consideration to the seabed unevenness and
spanning of the mat over sand waves that defines critical conditions for the
bending moments.

In the areas of high scour potential, physical modeling for scouring study should
be performed and consideration should be given on soil reaction pressures that
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may nearly change to point loads compared with the dimensions of a typical mat.
The most critical distribution of these pointloads against the mat depends on the
structural strength of the mat parts and the mat geometry.

3.3 ASSESSMENT OF ROTATIONAL STIFFNESS OF FOUNDATION

The rotational stiffness to be considered in the design analyses shall be as per the involved
classification society. It is mostly considered legs without mats that may penetrate the seabed
and pinned at least 3m below the seabed, unless specific observation for a particular location
suggests otherwise. However, the variability in soil condition also affects the stiffness
assumption.
The fatigue analyses of the legs should consider the effect of rotational stiffness.

3.4 PENETRATION AND PRELOAD CONSIDERATIONS

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3.4.1 Allowable Penetration

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The installation footing pressure should be equal to preload level that includes effect of

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maximum vertical loads coupled with eccentric loads due to asymmetric topside and
environment. The penetration of a footing will depend on the applied footing pressure and
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ultimate bearing capacity at the location. The maximum allowable penetration can be defined
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as,
Max allowable penetration = (leg length - required length through - the jack house - air gap -
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water depth)
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3.4.2 Design of Preload Capacity

The design of preload capacity shall depend on the size of the rig, severity of the weather for
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which the jack-up is designed for and the water depth. In general, the total preload amount
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may vary from 25% to 70% of the total rig weight before preloading. The diagonal preloading
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system shall need to be capable of adjusting the load on each individual leg. The minimum
preloading should be determined from site specific assessment to manage specific punch thru
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cases.
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3.4.3 Overall Stability Considerations

The overall stability is a conglomeration of ensuring avoidance against individual failure

mechanisms arising out of combined bearing, sliding and overturning stability; soil punch-
through resulting in tilting; and seafloor scour, movement and instability resulting in excessive
load and/or bearing capacity loss.

3.5 PULL-OUT RESISTANCE AND MEASURES TO REDUCE IT

Pullout Resistance is the total resistance contributed by the effect of overburden, bottom
suction and leg skin friction. The pullout capacity should at least be equal to the net weight of
the hull including a practical amount of variable load. In a special case the capacity may also
include the weight of the preload ballast. In cases where bottom suction effect may contribute
significantly to the pullout resistance, there may be a need for an effective jetting (suction
release) system.
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4.0 INSTALLATION AND OPERATION PROCEDURES

4.1 SITE INVESTIGATION

4.1.1 General
The scope of site investigation for a jack-up or MOPU location in Malaysian Water shall follow
as per the recommendations given in PTS 11.27.01.

4.1.2 Geophysical Survey

The Survey methods are used to map the sea bed and the different layers below sea bed.
Depending on the size of investigation area around the location and depth, the grids may vary
in overall size and intensity of the runs. The details shall follow as per the recommendations
given in PTS 11.27.01.

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4.1.3 Geotechnical Investigation

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The soil properties of jack-up location shall be investigated through the laboratory and in-situ

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tests. lU
Soil sampling at greater depths below mudline requires soil borings generally performed using
anchored barge or anchored or dynamic positioning vessel. Deep penetration sampling may
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also be carried out by ocean floor drilling rigs.

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General guide to the suitability of typical samplers to a particular soil types with typical
penetration depth and expected sample diameters can be found in PTS 11.27.01.
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The Cone Penetration Tests (CPT) or other suitable tests may be carried out to acquire
required soil parameters. Tools for in-situ tests may be deployed in non-drilling mode and
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drilling mode. For details, refer to PTS 11.27.01.

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4.1.4 Soil Investigation Requirement

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Mat  Mat-supported jackups use a steel mat foundation to achieve low

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Supported foundation bearing pressures. The potential sea bed unevenness and
Rigs subsequent built-up concentrated pressure should be assessed if required.
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 Top few meters [depending on the dimensions of the mat] of seabed

should be investigated to determine undrained shear strength, lateral soil
variability and other relevant soil parameters. Smaller increase in
undrained shear strength with depth may cause deepseated overturning
failure.
Individual In order to evaluate penetration depth sufficiently and accurately, the
Leg undrained shear strength of the soil and its distribution with depth below
Footings mudline should be investigated, down to a depth of at least one up to two
footing diameters below the expected penetration.

4.2 PENETRATION PREDICTION

4.2.1 Penetration Prediction Calculation

The general soil bearing capacity formulae that shall be used is as per SNAME (T&R Bulletin 5-
5A) and ISO 19905-1 recommendation.
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4.3 ELEVATION PRELOAD AND PULL-OUT PROCEDURES

4.3.1 General
Preload and pull-out calculations estimate the correlation between leg load and spudcan/mat
penetration keeping in view of the planned operation’s safety level especially in terms of
punch through.
In the following sections a summary of geotechnical considerations involved in the general
installation and operation procedures is discussed.

4.3.2 Elevation
The weather condition during installation shall be limited to calm sea and moderate wind
conditions only. The adjustment of the penetration prediction should be carried out after
touchdown and elevation of hull above the minimum airgap. Variation in airgap depends on

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many factors like tide amplitude, soil properties and jacking unit. In case the soil properties

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are well known and a uniform penetration is expected the rig shall be allowed to have a larger
air gap than ordinary recommended during this procedure. When uneven individual leg

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penetration is observed during preloading, the possibilities of critical ‘punch-through’
scenarios should be assessed and avoided.
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4.3.3 Preload
i. General
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Individual leg supported rigs follows different preloading procedures and orders
depending on jack-up and ballasting configuration. Mat supported rigs are not
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preloaded.
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ii. Preloading in Soft Bottoms with High Tides

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In soft bottom condition, preloading shall be done one leg at a time coupled with
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a start at maximum tide as the safest option. For four legged platforms diagonal
preloading may be adopted.
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iii. Preloading on Hard Bottom

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In hard bottoms, sands or over consolidated clay penetration depth must be

sufficient to improve the horizontal stability and reduce the consequences of
scouring. In a special case particularly where there is a top hard crust layer
underlain by softer strata, jetting of water to penetrate hard layer or Swiss-
cheesing may be used upon approval from Technical Authority to achieve
intended penetration depth.

4.3.4 Pull Out

One of the following jetting systems may be applied to reduce the base adhesion or suction
force below the spud-cans during pull-out:
i. High pressure & low volume systems
ii. Low pressure & large volume systems
iii. Suction releasers which may only be suction compensating pipes from below spud
or mat to mat to free water volume.
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4.4 STABILITY CONSIDERATIONS

4.4.1 General
Evaluation of jack-up platform stability depends on the extent and quality of the site
investigation and local statistical data of the weather conditions.

The vertical stability is of utmost importance. The penetration and stability is essential for the
platforms with individual legs. For mat supported jack-ups the penetration is generally very
limited, but if very soft clays is encountered, buoyancy of the mat relative to the displaced soil
volume increases sufficiently and therefore shall be checked.

4.4.2 Overturning Stability

The safety of the jack-up against overturning being a function the bearing capacity of the

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founding soil, the bearing capacity of the soil shall be checked and verified to ensure

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overturning stability. A suitable combined failure envelop should be developed to check the

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stability of the foundation in the overturning zone.

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For the jack-up with individual legs, the overturning stability may be covered by the preloading
procedure. For mat supported jack-ups on soft clay sites where the foundation acts as a single
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footing, the overturning considerations need to be checked on a case-to-case basis depending
on the complexity of the system.
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4.4.3 Sliding Stability

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i. Independent Leg Platforms

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The distribution of horizontal loads within the legs depends on level of fixity at
the sea bed. Generally the horizontal loads are considered evenly distributed
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amongst the legs assuming equal degree of fixity but this may vary considerably
with the level of vertical load. A suitable combined failure envelop should be
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developed to check the stability of the foundation in the sliding zone.

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The sliding resistance improves significantly with the vertical penetration of the
legs due to development of passive pressure. The combined effect of rotational
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and sliding resistance may also cause excessive bending stresses at the legs.
ii. Mat Supported Platforms
The horizontal sliding resistance being significantly lesser due to lack of
penetration, it becomes the critical failure mode for the mat supported platforms
and should be checked through the combined enevelop design. Short skirts
should be used around the periphery or a mat to increase sliding resistance. These
skirts will also be useful to prevent undermining by scour or pumping in and out
of water under rocking motions.
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5.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY

In this PTS, reference is made to the following Standards/Publication. Unless specifically

designated by date, the latest edition of each publication is used together with any
supplements/revisions thereto:

PETRONAS TECHNICAL STANDARDS

Index to PTS PTS 00.01.01
Requirements, General Definitions of Terms, Abbreviations & Reading Guide PTS 00.01.03
Site Specific Assessment of Mobile Offshore Jack-Up Units PTS 11.21.02
Offshore Site Investigation for Fixed Offshore Platform and Jack Up Location PTS 11.27.01

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

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Recommended Practice for Site Specific Assessment of Mobile Jack-up T&R Bulletin 5-
Units 5A
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Site Specific Assessment of Mobile Offshore Units – Part 1 Jack-ups ISO 19905-1;
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2012
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