Liuhua 11-1 FPS Dry-dock Upgrade and Life Extension - Mooring System Evaluation and Optimization

Abstract The evaluation of existing mooring system and the development of an appropriate optimization design became the key issues in the Liuhua 11–1 FPS dry-dock updating project because this optimized mooring system has to face new challenges, such as the update of site metocean conditions, the revision of wind force coefficients due to upgraded topsides, and the additional corrosion allowance for chain links due to extra 15-year service life extension compared with the original system design. A design team was formed to give the evaluation of the existing mooring system based on mooring line tensions and offset limits according to the latest industry standard for a permanent mooring system. Since the existing mooring system marginally failed the design requirements based on the evaluation, system optimization design focused on the adjustment of mooring line pretensions has been carried out to improve the mooring system performance and eventually to satisfy the classification requirements for the tension safety factors and the platform offset limits driven by the riser designs. The mooring system analysis was conducted in time domain. The Ariane program developed by BV was used in the detailed mooring system analyses. For the calibration and verification purpose, the system evaluation and the optimization design had also been independently verified with DNV's DeepC program. Introduction The LH 11–1 oil field is located about 200km southeast of Hong Kong in the South China Sea in approximately 310m depth of water. LH 11–1 FPS, which named ‘Nanhai TiaoZhan’, is a major component of LH 11–1 oil field development. The FPS was a modified drilling semi-submersible converted from a Sedco 700 series drilling rig built in 1975 and in 1995, it was converted again to a floating production unit in Singapore and then deployed at LH 11–1 oil field, permanently moored by 11 mooring legs. The Unit is classed by American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). It was originally designed for a service life of 10 years (from 1995) and has been continuously operating for more than 15 years. At the same time, a new oil field Liuhua 4–1 (OTC-24042), about 11 km away northwest LH 11–1, was in development planning with the utilization of LH 11–1 FPS facilities through a subsea tieback. Therefore, additional topsides capacities and the life extension of this aged semi-submersible FPS became necessary. CNOOC Ltd, Shenzhen is the owner of this LH 11–1 FPS. COOEC was selected as the contractor for the engineering and construction support of this FPS dry-docking upgrading and life extension project. CSSC Guanzhou Huangpu Shipbuilding Co., Ltd was contracted by the owner as the dry-docking shipyard for the upgrading construction.