Simplified Methods for Assessment of the Structural Integrity of Existing Steel Jacket Platforms in the Gulf of Mexico

by Rajiv K. Aggarwal, PMB Engineering, Inc, San Francisco, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Civil Engineering in the Oceans V

Abstract:

This paper presents the results of research to define a practical procedure for assessment of the structural integrity of existing steel jacket platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. An overview of a multi-level evaluation process is presented, which starts with a qualitative evaluation and proceeds progressively to more sophisticated quantitative methods. The research described here focusses on the first two screening phases: qualitative evaluation and coarse quantitative evaluation. Rule-based qualitative evaluation of capacity is described, which utilizes the `experience' gained from failure modes and failure mechanisms observed on damaged and collapsed platforms. Coarse quantitative evaluation of capacity is described, which utilizes limit state equilibrium of the platform and can be performed by simple hand computations. The capacity evaluation by these procedures is illustrated using an example Gulf of Mexico platform.

Subject Headings: Steel structures | Failure modes | Failure analysis | Structural analysis | Offshore structures | Gulfs | Developing countries | Gulf of Mexico

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