An Expert Panel Review of Geotechnical Site Investigation Regulations and Current Industry State of Practice

摘要

The paper describes a joint industry project (JIP) conducted to provide an independent review of the current Bureau of Safetyand Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) regulations and the American Petroleum Institute (API) standards (including theirhistorical development). The main objective of the JIP was to make recommendations for improving industry’s state-ofpracticeincluding revising regulations as needed to reflect the best methods for conducting deepwater geotechnicalinvestigations.The study provides a careful review of all regulations applicable to an integrated site investigation required for thefoundation design of a permanent floating production system. A panel of experts in offshore geotechnical engineering wasassembled to obtain their technical guidance for defining the most appropriate work scope for an offshore geotechnicalinvestigation for a permanently moored production system.The study describes the progress that has been made in site investigation technology (continuous sampling and insitutesting methods) and interpretation of the data since the regulations were initially published. The study also discusses howthe current regulations should be interpreted in light of these recent advancements, as applied to the foundation design ofsuction piles, plate anchors, or driven piles.The expert panel also recommended revising the regulatory text to ensure that best field practices and sound engineeringdesign principles can be employed when designing foundations to be safe and accomplish their intended purpose. The majorbenefit of the revised regulatory text is avoiding ambiguity between regulators and practicing geotechnical engineers as towhat constitutes best practices for conducting a deepwater integrated site investigation.