Rotatable Heave Plates for Barge Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of topsides on offshore structures, particularly deep draft floaters like Spar platforms, is challenging due to significant heave caused by wave motion, which leads to differential movement between the barge and the offshore structure, complicating the transfer and installation process.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of heave plates coupled to the barges below the water surface to alter the resonance period of the barge's motion relative to wave motion, stabilizing the barge system and increasing heave resistance, with the plates being rotatable for reduced drag during transportation and submerged deployment during installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If float-over barges are used for topsides installation, then heavy lift operations are eliminated and pre-commissioning work can be completed onshore, but significant heave motion occurs due to wave action causing differential movement between barge and offshore structure
Solution Approach 1:
Heave plates are pre-installed on the barges before float-over operations. These plates are positioned to extend downward into the water during installation, creating preliminary resistance to heave motion before the actual topsides installation begins. This advance preparation allows the system to be ready for stable installation without requiring complex real-time stabilization systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Heave plates serve as intermediary elements between the barge and the water. These plates extend into the water column to provide hydrodynamic resistance against wave-induced heave motion. By introducing this intermediate component, the system gains stability without modifying the barge structure itself or the offshore target structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If heave plates are deployed below water surface, then heave resistance increases and stability improves, but drag increases during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The heave plates are designed with movable or adjustable characteristics that allow them to change position or orientation based on operational requirements. During transportation, the plates can be retracted, raised, or positioned to minimize drag. During installation operations, they are deployed to their effective positions below the water surface to maximize heave resistance. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between transportation efficiency and installation stability.
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
The heave plates significantly reduce the heave motion of the barge system, enhancing stability and facilitating smoother installation of topsides on offshore structures by dampening the movement relative to wave action, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of the float-over installation method.
Implementation Method 1
One or more heave plates can be coupled at a location below the water surface to the one or more barges to change the resonance period of motion of the barge or barges relative to the period of wave motion
Implementation Method 2
The heave plates significantly reduce the heave motion of the barge system, enhancing stability and facilitating smoother installation of topsides on offshore structures by dampening the movement relative to wave action
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention increases the heave resistance rate of a barge system from wave motion, as the system is used to install a topsides to offshore structures. One or more heave plates can be coupled at a location below the water surface to one or more barges to change the period of motion of the barge(s) relative to the period of wave motion to better stabilize the barge(s) and resist the heave. A heave plate can be coupled between the barges, or on end(s) or side(s) of the barge(s). In at least another embodiment, each barge can have a heave plate and the heave plates can be releasably coupled to each other. Further, the heave plate can be rotated to an upward orientation during transportation of the topsides to the installation site to reduce drag, and then rotated to a submerged position during the installation of the topsides.