Seabed Terminal Piled Base Structure for Storm Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seabed-based storage structures for hydrocarbons face challenges such as high costs, complexity, and limited mobility due to the need for large volumes of ballast and deep foundations, which are impractical in shallow waters and soft seabed soils, and are vulnerable to extreme weather conditions like storm surges.
Innovation Solution
A piled base structure that uses temporary and permanent piles to support the seabed terminal, allowing for stable installation and operation without the need for extensive ballast or deep seabed contact, enabling flexible and cost-effective deployment in various seabed conditions, including soft soils, and resisting large uplift forces during storms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a GBS uses large volumes of fixed ballast to secure positive ground pressure during storm surges, then the structure can withstand extreme weather conditions, but the volume and weight of the structure increases significantly, creating a negative design spiral
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses tension-leg moorings and dynamic positioning systems to counteract uplift forces during storm surges, replacing the need for excessive fixed ballast. The structure maintains stability through active counterbalancing mechanisms rather than passive weight addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the design parameters by allowing the structure to operate with variable ballast levels and dynamic stabilization systems, rather than requiring fixed maximum ballast for all conditions. This enables lighter overall structure while maintaining safety during extreme events.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a GBS is equipped with suction skirts to enable installation on soft and unconsolidated seabed soils, then the structure can be installed in river deltas, but the size and vertical height of the skirts represent prohibitively expensive foundation solutions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the foundation function from the main GBS structure by using separate, modular foundation elements such as piled bases or mat foundations. This separates the complex suction skirt requirement from the storage structure, allowing simpler, more cost-effective foundation solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs temporary installation aids and modular foundation elements that can be installed and removed more easily than permanent suction skirts. These include temporary cofferdams, staged construction approaches, and removable foundation modules.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If large, rectangular or square steel or concrete structures are installed on the seabed to function as artificial harbors and breakwaters, then protection for incoming waves is provided, but the constructions become very large and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the breakwater function into modular elements distributed around the GBS, such as individual wave barriers, submerged breakwater elements, or modular floating barriers. This achieves wave protection without requiring one large continuous structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses flexible or semi-flexible wave barrier elements that can adapt to seabed topography and provide effective wave protection with less material. These include flexible membrane barriers, collapsible breakwater elements, or adaptive floating barriers.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the base structure is supported directly on the seabed by gravity, then the structure is stable, but large volumes of fixed ballast are required to counteract uplift forces during storm surges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs active counterbalancing systems including tension-leg moorings, dynamic positioning systems, and adjustable ballast systems that can respond to changing conditions. This replaces passive gravitational stability with active stabilization, reducing the need for excessive fixed ballast.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from static gravitational stability to dynamic stabilization using active control systems, adjustable moorings, and real-time ballast management. This allows the structure to maintain stability with less ballast by actively adapting to environmental forces.
Data Source
AI summary
This publication relates to a shallow water terminal, preferably for storing and loading or unloading hydrocarbons, such as LNG, oil or gas. The base structure comprises a floatable, and removable seabed substructure (10) intended to be supported by a seabed (30), the seabed substructure (10) comprising a base structure (11) provided preferably with an upwards extending wall structure (22), arranged along at least a part of the periphery of the base structure (11), the base structure (10) preferably also being provided with an opening (23) in the wall structure (22) for allowing the floatable module to be berthed in and supported by the seabed substructure (10). The base structure (10) is provided with strong points (24) configured to receive the ends of preinstalled vertical piles (14) for at least temporary support of the base structure (11) during a piling operation for permanent piling of the base structure (10) to the sea bed (30). The publication also relates to a method for piling a base structure on or above a seabed (30).