Handbook Of Bottom Founded Offshore Structures

Handbook of Bottom Founded Offshore Structures

Offshore Engineering continues to develop and expand rapidly. While in the public eye its focus has shifted towards subsea and floating developments in ever deeper waters, bottom founded structures are still at the industry’s heart. The fixed structure remains its dependable workhorse and even today newly installed fixed structures far outnumber subsea and floating applications. Additionally, the knowledge and technology that have (literally) pushed the boundaries of Offshore Engineering into ever more demanding environments and water depths have been largely pioneered by bottom founded structures. An engineer’s central skill is to develop coherent and balanced models for the problems encountered. Regrettably, due to availability of ever more sophisticated computer applications this expertise is at risk of getting lost, and adopting computer outcomes without truly understanding the models and their limitations is naive, risky and unprofessional. Therefore, every engineer needs fundamental knowledge and understanding of underlying theories and technologies. This Handbook is intended to help offshore engineers acquire and sustain relevant expertise in some notoriously difficult subjects. It attempts to stimulate reflection and critical evaluation of the models used and the strengths and weaknesses of the solutions found. While dealing more specifically with bottom founded structures, the material is generally applicable to offshore structures of all types. The Handbook can be used as a textbook for Master’s students and as a manual and reference guide for practising professionals.

Handbook of Bottom Founded Offshore Structures

Handbook of Bottom Founded Offshore Structures

This second part of the Handbook deals with fixed steel offshore structures during their full life cycle, from conceptual design, via fabrication, installation, behaviour on location and structural integrity management to their eventual decommissioning and removal. Using the theoretical background discussed in Part 1, the quasi-static, dynamic and fatigue behaviour in the open sea of framed structures and monotowers are analysed by illustrative practical applications that promote insight and understanding. Foundations are an inseparable part of bottom founded structures, in respect of their design and installation, as well as their mechanical behaviour on location. A comprehensive chapter in Part 2 is devoted to foundation engineering issues. Self-elevating platforms (jack-ups) are mobile structures that are floating when they are in transit, bottom founded when they are operating on location, and in transition between these two situations during placement and departure. This part also includes an informative chapter on this special type of structure.