Alternative configurations and materials for deep water mooring. Results from a three year joint research effort

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Alternative configurations and materials for deep water mooring. Results from a three year joint research effort

Nielsen, F.G. / Bindingsbo, A.U. / Hydro, N. / Guttormsen, T.R.

Mooring of floating platforms in deep waters is a challenging effort which calls for new solutions. A deepwater catenary mooring system has a rather low horizontal stiffness resulting large vessel excursions and correspondingly long risers to accommodate the excursions. A taut leg mooring system with polyester fibre ropes reduces the vessel excursions by a factor of 2-5. This may have significant impact on the riser design and costs. A three year research programme addressing the challenges related to taut mooring systems (TMS) has recently been completed. The research programme has been funded jointly by the Norwegian Research Council, oil companies and contractors. The programme has focused on taut mooring systems comprising synthetic fibre lines and anchors which allow for vertical loading. The research effort has been divided into four main tasks: Characteristics of synthetic fibre ropes; System design and costs; Anchor design and testing of anchors; Installation and retrieval of mooring systems. The paper gives a general overview over the activities and conclusions from the research programme. In particular the tests included in the research programme has added a lot of valuable information for designers of taut mooring systems. More details on the findings are found in accompanying papers.