Coupled analysis of FPSO and CALM buoy offloading system in West Africa

• Published in: Volume 8A: Ocean Engineering
• Main Authors: Keng, Y, Sun, L, Kang, Z, Chai, S
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: American Society of Maritime Engineers 2014
• Subjects: Engineering; Maritime Engineering; Ocean Engineering; Arctic
• Online Access: http://www.asmeconferences.org/OMAE2014/index.cfm; https://doi.org/10.1115/OMAE2014-23118; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/93171

FPSO and CALM (Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring) buoyoffloading systems are being extensively employed in water fieldof West Africa. In this paper we did some research on the responseof FPSO and CALM offloading systems under special environmentconditions inWest Africa. It is found that Swell dominate sea statehas much larger effects on wave frequency motions of FPSO thanresponding results introduced by Wind Sea dominate sea state, andsquall and current will introduce large horizontal motions of FPSO,such as surge and sway. As for CALM, swell and wind sea mainlyaffect its heave and roll motions, respectively. Due to its little windarea, CALM does not show great response to Squall which is theextreme environment condition for FPSO though.By comparing the results from OOL (Oil Offloading Line) dynamicanalysis and quasi-static analysis, it could be that OOL dynamiceffect has little influence on motions of FPSO. But it can bringlarge changes of responses of CALM because of its small waterdisplacement which indicates coupled analysis of the whole systemis necessaryBesides, investigations on OOL fatigue have also been done, andthe results show that CALM motion plays an important role onfatigue damage and life of OOL under different sea states.