SYSTEM FOR PREDICTIVE FAILURE ANALYSIS OF OFFSHORE PLATFORM PLACEMENT AND SAFE RECOVERY FROM RAPID LEG PENETRATION INCIDENTS

• US 20160055280A1
• Filed: 08/20/2014
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Matthews-Daniel Company
• Original Assignee: Matthews-Daniel Company
• Inventors: Devoy, S. Douglas, Vazquez, Jose H.
• Application Number:
  US14/464,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20160055280A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/0034 Maintenance, repair or inspection of offshore constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/23 using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM]

Abstract

A tool to provide predictive analysis and component stresses of an offshore platform supported by platform support members as the offshore platform is being placed within a body of water. The tool comprising a computer processor, computer data storage, an input means, and an output means, which can all be in communication with the computer processor. The tool comprises a rig model library comprising at least one individual rig model, wherein each of the individual rig models comprises a finite element analysis of a specific offshore platform and a database comprising calculated component stress values for each of a plurality of offshore platform components, wherein each of the calculated component stress values incorporate the finite element analysis of the specific offshore platform and a plurality of predictive parameters for predicting mechanical stresses and analyzing failure potential for rig placement.

Claims

1. A tool to provide predictive analysis and component stresses of an offshore platform supported by at least three platform support members as the offshore platform is being placed within a body of water, wherein at least a portion of the platform support members penetrate soil, and further wherein the tool comprises:

a. a computer processor;

b. a computer data storage in communication with the computer processor;

c. an input means in communication with the computer processor;

d. an output means in communication with the computer processor;

e. a rig model library within the computer data storage comprising at least one individual rig model, wherein each of the individual rig models comprises a finite element analysis of a specific offshore platform;

f. a database stored within the computer data storage comprising a plurality of calculated component stress values for each of a plurality of offshore platform components, wherein each of the calculated component stress values incorporate the finite element analysis of the specific offshore platform and a plurality of predictive parameters comprising;

(i) an offshore platform height parameter, wherein the offshore platform height parameter is a measured height of the offshore platform above a defined water level;

(ii) a rapid penetration parameter;

(iii) a longitudinal center of gravity;

(iv) a vertical center of gravity;

(v) a transverse center of gravity;

(vi) a platform weight; and

(vii) a water depth; and

g. computer instructions within the computer data storage instructing the computer processor to;

(i) receive each predictive parameter from the input means;

(ii) determine an output component stress value for each offshore platform component by;

(1) exactly matching the plurality of predictive parameters to the plurality of calculated component stress values;

or

(2) calculating the plurality of component stress values using a plurality of component stress values for other parameters similar to the plurality of predictive parameters; and

(iii) transmit the output component stress value to the output means.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the plurality of predictive parameters further comprises an environmental parameter comprising:

(i) a wind parameter;

(ii) a wave parameter;

or

(iii) a current parameter.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein each of the calculated component stress values further incorporate:

a. a P-Delta characteristic;

b. a dynamic adjustment factor for the environmental parameter; and

c. a support member stability characteristic.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the database further comprises a diffraction run of the offshore platform based upon a rapid penetration value of one support member of the offshore platform and at least a portion of the offshore platform is at or below the defined water level.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the input means comprises:

a. a user input mechanism;

or

b. an application program interface to receive data.

6. The tool of claim 1, wherein the output means comprises:

a. a display;

or

b. an application program interface to transmit data.

7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the wind parameter comprises:

a. a wind direction;

b. a wind speed;

c. a wind direction;

or

d. a gust factor.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein a scaling factor is applied to the wind parameter.

9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the wave parameter comprises:

a. a wave height;

b. a wave speed;

c. a wave frequency;

d. a wave direction;

e. a wave specific gravity;

f. a wave water depth;

or

g. a wave breaking indication.

10. The tool of claim 9, wherein a scaling factor is applied to the wave parameter.

11. The tool of claim 1, wherein the current parameter comprises:

a. a current speed;

b. a current direction;

c. a current specific gravity;

d. a current water depth;

or

e. a current speed versus depth profile.

12. The tool of claim 11, wherein a scaling factor is applied to the current parameter.

13. The tool of claim 1, wherein the support member stability parameter comprises:

a. a fixed specification;

b. a pinned specification;

or

c. a fixity value.

14. The tool of claim 13, wherein a scaling factor is applied to the support member stability parameter.

15. The tool of claim 1, wherein the offshore platform components comprise:

a. a support chord;

b. a support brace;

c. a pinion;

d. a rack chock;

e. a span breaker;

or

f. a joint.

16. The tool of claim 1, further comprising an engineering design database, wherein the engineering design database comprises design characteristics for each of the offshore platform components and offshore platforms.

17. The tool of claim 16, further comprising computer instructions within the computer data storage instructing the processor to:

a. determine if the output component stress value exceeds the design characteristics for each of the offshore platform components for a given predictive parameter;

b. calculate a recommended corrective action;

or

c. transmit the corrective action to the output means.

18. The tool of claim 16, further comprising:

a. a data log of events occurring during a rapid penetration event;

b. an analysis capability of various recovery actions; and

c. a prediction of a best mode of recovery.

19. The tool of claim 16, further comprising a situational simulation module, wherein the situational simulation module comprises:

a. a simulation of a plurality of rapid penetration events for a plurality of offshore platforms; and

b. a simulation of results from a plurality of rectification actions.