Structural Sensitivity and Parameter of Tarpon Platform

In oil and gas exploration and production, minimum platforms are becoming an increasingly popular solution for the development of marginal oil and gas fields because of their low fabrication cost and the possibility of standardizing the design (Tarpon System, 2008). The minimum platforms like monopod platforms are widely used and installed in marginal fields (low reservoir capacity) to gain a maximum profit by minimizing the capital investment. Tarpon platform is the latest design patented with a single central caisson guyed by 3 pairs of wire rope that anchored to the mudline. There are 51 installations of Tarpon platform worldwide and a lot of researches are carrying on in enhancing the strength of the platform. PETRONAS Management Team (PMT) has noticed that their Tarpon platforms installed in PMO and SBO waters are in very high risk condition due to various reasons. The authors will propose a new way of structural assessment by focusing to the effect of guy cables on the stability and strength of the platform. Tarpon platform will be remodel using SACS software and include the entire load acting. Author will analyse the displacement at the top of caisson by reducing the tension of guy cable as well as complete loss of the cables. The results will show the structural parameter used and sensitivity of the Tarpon platform