Simplified Model for the Weight Estimation of Floating Offshore Structure Using the Genetic Programming Method

In the initial design stage, the technology for estimating and managing the weight of a floating offshore structure, such as a FPSO (Floating, Production, Storage, and Off-loading unit) and an offshore wind turbine, has a close relationship with the basic performance and the price of the structure. In this study, using the genetic programming (GP), being used a lot in the approximate estimating model and etc., the weight estimation model of the floating offshore structure was studied. For this purpose, various data for estimating the weight of the floating offshore structure were collected through the literature survey, and then the genetic programming method for developing the weight estimation model was studied and implemented. Finally, to examine the applicability of the developed model, it was applied to examples of the weight estimation of a FPSO topsides and an offshore wind turbine. As a result, it was shown that the developed model can be applied the weight estimation process of the floating offshore structure at the early design stage.