Hydrodynamic Analysis on Semi-Submersible Platform

As the population increases exponentially and demand for inexpensive energy sources continue to raise, exploration and production for fossil fuel is rapidly growing. In order to meet the demands, the exploration has taken one step further to the extreme deep sea. Floating production platform design is a far more efficient and economical rather that fixed production platform at this depth. One of the floating production platform designs in use today is semi-submersible. Semi-submersible platforms have widely been operating for the exploration and production of fossil fuel because of its ability to withstand extreme wave loading, adaptation to wide range of water depth and its great mobility. Research aims to study the effect of hydrodynamic coefficient on semisubmersible platform. Analyses of wave forces by using Linear Airy Wave Theory were conducted. Dynamic equations in time domain were analyzed. The random waves were analyzed using Pierson-Moskowitz Spectrum. Forces acting on platform were analyzed using Morrison equation. Surge, heave and pitch analysis were carried out by using Motion-Response Spectrum. Parametric study on various hydrodynamic coefficients was conducted. The result indicates that responses subjected to varying hydrodynamic coefficient in Morrison's coefficient yield small effect of responses considering three types of tubular members surface roughness (clean, semi-fouled and fouled). It is reasonable to state that the design of a semi-submersible platform can be implemented at any condition