Full Scale Monitoring Marco Polo Tension Leg Platform

Abstract

Installed 160 miles South of New Orleans in 1300 m of water, the Marco Polo Tension Leg Platform is subjected to an extensive monitoring campaign to benchmark design data and methods. The purpose of the full scale monitoring campaign is to evaluate the design in operation exposed to hurricane and loop-current conditions. Interests comprise the high and low frequency modes of motion, the fatigue loading of the platform and the dynamic behavior of the tendons and risers with focus on vortex induced vibrations. To evaluate these results wind, wave and current conditions are closely monitored. Figure 1: Marco Polo TLPThe monitoring system was in operation during the passage of hurricanes Ivan, Katrina and Rita. Although Marco Polo was extremely close to the center of these severe hurricanes, no significant damage was inflicted to the platform, even though wind speeds in excess of 138 mph and maximum wave heights over 28 m were measured. However, very valuable data was collected on the wave, wind, current, as well as on the response of the TLP during the Hurricane conditions.

The Spatial Analysis of an Extreme Wave in a Model Basin

“…It should be noted that the present distributions are based on long-crested waves in a model basin and that the situation in a short-crested seastate can be different [2]. However, also in the full scale measurements at the Marco Polo TLP similar trends and crest heights were observed [8]. Figure 15 gives an example of the present wave compared to a wave measured during Hurricane Rita.…”

“…Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina and Rita in the Gulf of Mexico confirmed the importance of these extreme waves for all types of offshore structures [4][5][6][7][8]. At the 'Marco Polo' TLP [8] a maximum wave height of more than 28 m was recorded during hurricane Rita. To assure the integrity and safety of a platform, extreme waves should be taken into account in the design.…”

“…In the offshore and shipping industry, the last few years there has been a lot of attention to extreme wave events [1][2][3]. Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina and Rita in the Gulf of Mexico confirmed the importance of these extreme waves for all types of offshore structures [4][5][6][7][8]. At the 'Marco Polo' TLP [8] a maximum wave height of more than 28 m was recorded during hurricane Rita.…”

“…The authors are presently investigating several of these issues. In [8] the wave measurements and platform response of the Marco Polo TLP in Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina and Rita are studied, whereas [10] discusses the numerical simulation of…”

Study on the dynamic characteristics of a soft yoke mooring system for floating production storage and offloading based on field measurements

“…Floating structures of deep-water platforms, such as tension leg platform (TLPs), 9 SPARs, [10][11][12] semi-submersible platform (SEMIs), 13 and FPSOs, [14][15][16][17][18] have been successfully and widely applied, whereas the monitoring of SYMs in shallow water has seldom been reported. In this study, the method of monitoring SYM in Bohai Bay was carried out.…”