Non-Linear Coupled Analysis for a Moored FPSO in Deepwater of the Gulf of Mexico

An accurate prediction of the global response of a floating production and storage offloading (FPSO) system under harsh environmental conditions is of great importance in order to achieve the reliability and safety operation of the whole system. FPSOs may be subjected to significant resonant oscillations in the horizontal plane due to low frequency (LF) wave effects and wind excitation forces. These characteristics may contribute to the increase in surge due to the low level of viscous hull damping. Additionally, it has been observed that when the water depth increases, the coupled effects (damping, inertia and restoring force) contributions from mooring lines and risers increases.This paper investigates the LF response behavior of a deepwater FPSO unit in the Gulf of Mexico by carrying out a coupled analysis based on a nonlinear time domain analysis.A 3D model based on boundary integrated element method is used to investigate the hydrodynamic behaviour of the floater as well as a 3D finite element model for each of the slender elements representing the mooring lines and risers. The LF motions of a FPSO with a typical arrangement of catenary mooring lines and steel catenary risers is studied for surge, sway and yaw mainly. The hydrodynamic characteristics of the FPSO are studied through both Newman’s approach and the full Quadratic transfer function.The coupling effect of the floater and mooring/riser systems is examined by comparing the tensions in mooring lines/risers and the global responses of the system in six degree of freedom. The nonlinearity of the hydrodynamics of wave-vessel interaction and the dynamic contribution of mooring lines and risers are investigated with storm and hurricane events for a particular location in deep water Gulf of Mexico (GOM).Copyright © 2014 by ASME