Chapter 7

(OFFSHORE PLATFORMS)
Introduction
Permanent, fixed offshore platforms may be piled or suction foundation
supported steel structures, or gravity platforms (GBS = Gravity Based
Structure') that rest on the seabed. Piles are usually tubular, open-ended and
driven. On occasion, piles are grouted into carbonate or rock formations. A
small number of steel platforms are supported by steel suction caissons rather
than driven piles. The gravity platforms are steel or concrete structures
equipped with skirts that penetrate into the seabed. The tallest GBS to date,
which is located in the Troll field in the North Sea in about 330m water depth,
is equipped with concrete skirts that penetrate 36 m into normally
consolidated clay, whereas the Ekofisk Oil Storage Tank, located in about 60 m
water depth, has short skirts that only penetrate about 0.6m into very dense
sand. This all goes to demonstrate that the geotechnical conditions of a site
are critical to the design of any structure.

Commonly, offshore platforms carry heavy deck loads and, in exposed

locations, will experience severe storm loads. In some areas, earthquakes
impose high dynamic loads and may reduce the soil strength. These loads,
carried by the foundation, mean that foundation engineering is a critical
element in the design process.
Foundation Design Issue??
Bearing capacity
Permanent displacements (settlement)
Cyclic displacements
Foundation stiffness
Soil reaction stresses
Penetration of skirts
Pile drivability
Punch-through
Liquefaction potential analyses
Scour and erosion
Parameter Required
TYPICAL SCOPE FOR SITE
INVESTIGATION
Chapter 8
(ANCHORED STRUCTURES)
There are many types of anchored structures and these are
conventionally classified according to two
criteria:
Duration of the anchoring: temporary versus semi-permanent
or permanent.
Water depth.

Temporary anchored structures are chiefly floating platforms

used for drilling offshore wells, e.g. semisubmersible platforms,
or for marine construction works such as crane, dredging and,
pipelay barges. Temporary anchoring is restricted to relatively
shallow water depths (typically < 300 m).
This guideline considers all types of anchoring systems capable
of resisting significant tensions at seabed level (typically more
than 1 MN). These are:
Marine (drag) anchors.
High holding power (HHP) drag anchors.
Vertically loaded anchors (VLAs).
Anchor piles.
Gravity anchors, possibly equipped with skirts.
Suction caissons.
DESIGN ISSUES AND INSTALLATION
CONSTRAINTS