Observed foundation behaviour of concrete gravity platforms installed in the North Sea 1973–1978

Available measurements of foundation behaviour of the 13 concrete gravity platforms installed in the North Sea in the years 1973–1978 are presented. The measurements cover both the installation phase and the early part of the operation period. For the installation phase, measurements of dowel and skirt penetration resistance, base contact stresses, tilt, piping and erosion, are presented. For the operation period, the presentation includes measurements of settlements, pore water pressures, base contact stresses, permanent lateral displacements, cyclic displacements, dynamic behaviour and erosion. The measurements are used to back calculate soil properties and to evaluate the adequacy of the design procedures which have been used. The observations give valuable experience with respect to the foundation performance of offshore gravity platforms.     

Geoid and gravity anomalies in the North Sea Area derived from SEASAT-altimeter data

As part of the work of the SEASAT user research group of Europe altimeter data of SEASAT-1, preprocessed by Jet Propulsion Laboratories, have been used to derive a high-precision geoid as well as gravity anomalies für the North Sea Area. The altimeter data have been corrected first for tidal effects; the tidal signal was computed at the Institute of Oceanographic Science, Bidston, using a high precision tidal model for the North Sea.     

Uncertainty analysis for the calculation of marine environmental design parameters in the South China Sea

The calculation results of marine environmental design parameters obtained from different data sampling methods, model distributions, and parameter estimation methods often vary greatly. To better analyze the uncertainties in the calculation of marine environmental design parameters, a general model uncertainty assessment method is necessary. We proposed a new multivariate model uncertainty assessment method for the calculation of marine environmental design parameters. The method divides the ov...     

A parametric design study for a semi/SCR system in Northern North Sea

In recent years, offshore reservoirs have been developed in deeper and deeper water environments. Steel catenary risers (SCRs) are being considered in deepwater development such as Northern North Sea. SCRs used in conjunction with a semi-submersible or floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) in deepwater harsh environments present significant design challenges. The large vertical motions at the semi or FPSO induce severe riser response, which results in difficulty meeting strength and fatigue criteria at the hang off and touch down point locations. To improve the understanding of SCR behaviour and increase the confidence in the design of such systems in deepwater harsh environments, a parametric study on a SCR connected to a semi-submersible was carried out in this paper to deal with the factors that mainly influence the loading condition and fatigue life of the riser. Weight-optimized configurations were applied during the course of riser design. Riflex combined with DeepC was the primary analysis tool used for the long-term response of the nonlinear SCR structure simulations, which requires a large amount of computer time. Hence, the parameters affecting the efficiency and accuracy of the simulations have also been studied during the analysis process.     

北极海盆的深海热液

从海底地壳开裂处涌出一般带有大量生物的深海热泉的现象已众所周知。一开始在太平洋和大西洋中找到了它们 ,而在 2 0世纪和 2 1世纪交接期印度洋中也发现了热液 ,而后就输到高纬度的北极海区了。在极区盆地中应当有热液已有过报道。例如 ,1 993年 9月 ,俄 德联合北极考察队乘坐“极地”(Polarstern)号破冰船 ,在拉普帖夫海加克利 (Гакке х)海岭东端 (77°45′N、1 2 5° 55′E ,水深 1 990m) ,获得了对研究热液非常有意义的样品 ,证实了在这个海岭上存在着热液活动 ;但是 ,在 2 0 0 1年 ,美国和德国破冰船“健康”(Healy)号和“极…     

3D gravity modelling for Anyongbok Seamount in the East Sea

A seamount chain with an approximately WNW trend is observed in the northeastern Ulleung Basin. It has been argued that these seamounts, including two islands called Ulleung and Dok islands, were formed by a hotspot process or by ridge related volcanism. Many geological and geophysical studies have been done for all the seamounts and islands in the chain except Anyongbok Seamount, which is close to the proposed spreading ridge. We first report morphological characteristics, sediment distribution patterns, and the crustal thickness of Anyongbok Seamount using multibeam bathymetry data, seismic reflection profiles, and 3D gravity modeling. The morphology of Anyongbok Seamount shows a cone shaped feature and is characterized by the development of many flank cones and flank rift zones. The estimated surface volume is about 60 km³, and implies that the seamount is smaller than the other seamounts in the chain. No sediments have been observed on the seamount except the lower slope, which is covered by more than 1,000 m of strata. The crustal structure obtained from a 3D gravity modeling (GFR = 3.11, SD 3.82 = mGal) suggests that the seamount was formed around the boundary of the Ulleung Plateau and the Ulleung Basin, and the estimated crustal thickness is about 20 km, which is a little thicker than other nearby seamounts distributed along the northeastern boundary of the Ulleung Basin. This significant crustal thickness also implies that Anyongbok Seamount might not be related to ridge volcanism.     

地震作用下的导管架海洋平台结构动力优化设计研究

把导管架海洋平台看作钢框架结构，并把优化方法用于结构的抗震设计中；以结构的总重量最小为优化目标，导管的平均直径和壁厚作为设计变量，考虑强度、刚度和稳定等约束条件。通过渤海BZ28—1油田储油平台为例进行了计算，计算结果表明，此方法对海洋平台的设计具有一定的参考意义。     

Drowned carbonate platforms in the Bismarck Sea,Papua New Guinea

Extinct volcanic islands in the Bismarck volcanic arc are fringed by well-developed coral reefs. Drowned platforms offshore from these islands provide evidence for subsidence in the central section of the arc, north of the Finisterre Terrane–Australia collision. Bathymetric and backscatter data collected onboard the R/V Kilo Moana in 2004 reveal regularly spaced (~200 m interval) drowned platforms at depths as much as 1,100 m below sea level. However, the adjacent mainland coast has well documented raised terraces indicating long-term uplift. Local subsidence may be due to cessation of magmatic activity and cooling, flexural loading by the uplifting Finisterre Range, loading by nearby active volcanic islands, and/or sediment loading on the seafloor north of the Finisterre Range. We present some simple models in order to test whether flexural loading can account for local subsidence. We find that volcanic and sedimentary loading can explain the inferred relative subsidence.     

抗冰导管架平台动力特性分析

目前的抗冰导管架平台结构设计主要是考虑极限冰力引起的破坏,尚未形成基于动冰力响应分析的结构设计。为了更好研究冰荷载、冰激振动机理以及提出合理的概念设计,冰荷载下抗冰导管架结构的动力特性分析是十分必要的。基于现场冰与导管架结构相互作用的多年观测以及数值模拟研究,分析渤海辽东湾典型导管架结构在交变冰力作用下的动力特性,提出了适于冰荷载研究与抗冰导管架结构概念设计、分析的简化力学模型,解释柔性抗冰导管架结构动力效应显著的原因。     

Mussel fouling on the Celtic Sea Kinsale Field gas platforms

Fouling was investigated on Marathon Kinsale Field Alpha and Bravo platforms in the Celtic Sea between June 1978 and June 1981. In shallow depths, algae dominated, chiefly Polysiphonia brodiaei and Ulva lactuca. Mussels formed the dominant fouling organism between 6 and 20 m depth, below which were zones of Metridium senile and Alcyonium digitatum, serpulids and the deep water barnacle Balanus hameri. In September 1979 mussels exceeded 2500 m⁻² with a modal length of 42 mm. By June 1981, modal length had increased to 67 mm at −4 m and 73 mm at −18 m (maximum size 97 mm). Populations on Bravo were similar. Comparison is made with growth rates on North Sea platforms. On Alpha, percentage cover m⁻² in March 1980 was much greater at −4 m than at −18 m, but mean thickness was similar. At −18 m mussels were a heavier fouler on Bravo than Alpha. On Alpha mussel weight did not show a linear relationship with percentage cover.     

Stochastic bivariate time series models of waves in the North Sea and their application in simulation-based design

In this paper, we present and evaluate three long-term wave models for application in simulation-based design of ships and marine structures. Designers and researchers often rely on historical weather data as a source for ocean area characteristics based on hindcast datasets or in-situ measurements. The limited access and size of historical datasets reduces repeatability of simulations and analyses, making it difficult to assess the sampling variability of performance and loads on marine vessels and structures. Markov, VAR and VARMA wave models, producing independent long-term time series of significant wave height (H_s) and spectral peak period (T_p), is presented as possible solutions to this problem. The models are tested and compared by addressing how the models affect interpretation of design concepts and the ability to replicate statistical and physical characteristics of the wave process. Our results show that the VAR and VARMA models perform sufficiently in describing design performance, but does not capture the physical process fully. The Markov model is found to perform worst of the tested models in the applied tests, especially for measures covering several consecutive sea states.     

International politics of the North Sea

An account of the research project of the North Sea Study Group of the Royal Institute of International Affairs.