Practical Planning for Driving Offshore Pipe Piles

Underwater Geotechnical Foundations

“…Offshore pile hammers (typically single-acting steam-driven) with rated energies from 60,000 to 300,000 ft-lb (80 to 400 kNm) were used to drive these piles to their design penetrations. The resulting ultimate pile load capacities were up to 3,500 tons in compression and 2,000 tons tension (Sullivan and Ehlers 1972). Pile-driving experience in the hard clays of the North Sea caused overestimation of pile hammer capabilities and underestimation of the pile bearing capacities .…”

“…Proper 3-D positioning of the foundation is required during the installation process. The installation procedures must be consistent with the design criteria, and advance planning for alternate or supplemental procedures should be made prior to mobilization of the marine construction equipment (Sullivan and Ehlers 1972). Tanaka et al (1987) studied the installation procedures for placing a gravity-based foundation on an offshore Japan seabed.…”