Offshore Hull Skirts for Scour Protection and Crane-Free Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bottom-founded offshore structures rely on cranes for installation, which is time-consuming and expensive, and face challenges with scour protection, requiring specialized vessels that increase costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an adjustably buoyant hull with integral anti-scour plates and foundation skirts, allowing self-weighting and self-flotation capabilities, reducing the need for crane barges and specialized scour protection vessels by increasing contact area with the seafloor and preventing erosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional crane installation methods are used for bottom-founded offshore structures, then installation can be performed, but the process is time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The hull is designed with self-flotation capability through integrated buoyancy elements, allowing it to float and be towed to the installation site without requiring crane barges or specialized installation vessels. The structure installs itself by being towed into position and then ballasted down, eliminating the need for traditional crane-based installation methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The hull serves multiple functions: it provides buoyancy for transport, structural support for the platform, and integration with the foundation system. The anti-scour plates and foundation skirts are integrated into the hull structure, combining scour protection and foundation functions into the main structural element, reducing the need for separate specialized vessels.
2Reliability
If specialized scour protection vessels are deployed, then scour protection can be provided, but costs and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-scour plates and foundation skirts are integrated directly into the hull structure as integral components. The anti-scour plates extend from the bottom of the hull to prevent scour, while the foundation skirts extend downward to provide foundation support. This merging of scour protection and foundation functions into the main structural element eliminates the need for separate specialized scour protection vessels and reduces operational complexity.
3Strength
If traditional foundation systems are used, then foundation support is provided, but scour protection requires additional specialized vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The foundation system is integrated with the hull structure through foundation skirts that extend downward from the hull. The anti-scour plates are also integrated into the hull, extending from the bottom surface. This integration combines foundation support and scour protection functions into the main structural element, providing the required bearing capacity while eliminating the need for separate specialized vessels and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The foundation skirts extend in the vertical dimension downward from the hull to provide foundation support, while the anti-scour plates extend horizontally from the bottom of the hull to prevent scour. This multi-dimensional extension provides both foundation bearing capacity and scour protection through the same integrated structural elements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables faster, cost-effective installation and maintenance of offshore structures by eliminating the need for crane barges and specialized scour protection vessels, while enhancing stability through increased bearing capacity and scour prevention.
Implementation Method 1
floating an adjustably buoyant hull to the installation site... ballasting the hull into engagement with the sea floor
Data Source
AI summary
An offshore structure includes an adjustably buoyant hull including a plurality of vertical columns and a plurality of horizontal pontoons. Each pontoon extends between a pair of the columns. The adjustably buoyant hull is configured to receive a topside. Each column has a central axis, an upper end, and a lower end. Each pontoon has a longitudinal axis, a first end coupled to one of the columns, and a second end coupled to another one of the columns. The offshore structure also includes a foundation assembly attached to a lower end of the hull. The foundation assembly includes a column skirt extending downward from the lower end of each column and a pontoon skirt extending downward from a bottom surface of each pontoon.