Recommendations for Research in Geotechnical Engineering for Tension Leg Platforms

摘要

The Tension Leg Platform (TLP) is a buoyant, compliant structural system designed for drilling and producing oil and gas in deep water. The unique vertical mooring system of the TLP imposes a sustained uplift load on the platform's foundations; cyclic loads caused by environmental forces can be as large as the static uplift load. Deep water and the unusual type of foundation loading create new challenges for geotechnical engineers. For the design of TLP foundations to be efficient, geotechnical engineers will need new tools, new information, and new analytical capabilities. This report discusses technical issues in five broad categories related to foundation design for TLPs and presents recommendations for research to advance the state of the art in geotechnical engineering. The subjects discussed are: piles in tension; site investigation and soil properties; gravity foundations; seafloor stability; and earthquakes. For TLP applications, research on the behavior of piles loaded cyclically in tension and on measuring and interpreting soil properties at deep-water sites should receive the highest priority. 145 refs., 14 figs. (ERA citation 10:048141)