Suction Anchorage. Past and Future.

By: Sean-Philip H Bolduc

CVE 582 Seabed Geotechnics Fall 2008 Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Introduction
Suction Caissons: An alternative to traditional foundations.

Introduction continued
Examples of Traditional Foundations
Driven Pile Drag Anchors Gravity Caissons

Introduction continued
Suction Caissons Advantages:
Cost cutting measures
Construction (saved material) Transportation Installation Removal

Ease of Installation and removal Reduced Sediment Potential Increased Short Term Loading Capacity due to Suction induced Pore Pressures

History of Offshore Foundations

Major Drive to go offshore - Oil Discovery 1947 First Offshore Platform built off the Gulf of Mexico Currently more the 6,800 offshore structures (Alghamdi
2005)

Types of Common Platforms

Steel Pile Jacket Platforms (SPJ) Gravity Based Structures (GBS) Tension Leg Platform Spar Platform Windmill Tripod Design
(RAMBOLL)

History Continued
Suction Foundations
Mooring anchors off the coast of Denmark by Senperee and Auvergne 1989 Gullfak C. GBS first to use suction caisson foundation in clay Snorre. First TLP founded in clay Draupner E. First founded in Clay

Installation
Two Stages
Lowered to sea floor and imbedded under self weight Suction force created by pumping water out of top
Clays: Suction force exceeds tip and skin resistance Sand: Hydraulic gradient reduced soil resistance to zero

In-Service
Suction Caissons
Active Suction (pumps left on)
Temporary Anchorage

Tops are Sealed

Suction Pressures increase resistance to Pullout Force

Tops are left open

Act as standard Pile rely on just tip and skin resistance

Conclusion
Suction Foundation Technology has great potential
Ease of construction Installation and Possible Removal Durable under short term loading
Wave and Wind Loading

Showing it to be more economical option to Traditional Foundation Options

References
Colliat, J.L., Boisard, P., Sparrevik, P., Gramet, J.C., (1998). Design and Installation of Suction Anchor Piles at Soft Clay Site, Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering , July/August, pp179-188. Rasmusse, J.L., Feid, T., Sorensen, P.H, (2000). Bucket Foundation for Offshore Wind Farms Comparison of Simplified Model and FE-Calculations, Ramboll, http://www.rambollwind.com/PDF/OWEMES2000.pdf Sukumaran, B.. Suction Caisson Anchors A Better Option for Deep Water Applications, Rowan University Tran, M.N., Randolph, M.F., Airey, D.W., (2007). Installation of Suction Caissons in Sand with Silt Layers, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Oct 2007, pp.1183-1191 Westgate, Z.J., DeJong, J.T. Geotechnical considerations for offshore wind turbines. Technical report, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Renewable Energy Tryst, 2005. Zhang, J.H., Zhang, L.M., Lu, X.B., (2007). Centrifuge modeling of suction bucket foundations for platforms under ice-sheet-induced cyclic lateral loadings, Ocean Engineering, Vol 34, pp10691079. Zhou, H, Randolph, M.F., (2006). Large deformation analysis of suction caisson installation in clay, Can. Geotech, Vol 43, 2006, pp1344-1357.