Latest on FPSO Mooring

Line Monitoring
Techniques
Dr. Zhang Hui
2H Offshore

Agenda

Introduction
Why monitoring mooring failure
Monitoring technology overview
Case Study
Conclusions

Introduction
Mooring systems keep the floating
platforms or FPSOs in place

Why Monitoring - Mooring Failures

Total failure in abnormal weather
Loss of 1 or 2 lines in mild weather

Why Monitoring
Detection of line failure
Prediction of line failure
Planning inspection and maintenance
Reduction in asset replacement interval

Monitoring Technology Overview

Direct Tension Monitoring
Load cell
Chain Dynamic Tension Sensor

Indirect Tension Monitoring

Mooring Chain Angle

Mooring Chain Dynamic Tension

Monitoring
Measure the mean and dynamic tension
For studless chains

Mooring Chain Angle Monitoring

Measure top angle of

each mooring line
Angles are converted
into tension using the
chain characteristic
equation

Case Study: Espirito Santo FPSO

Subsea turret
9 Mooring lines
Chain stopper

Monitoring System Design Criteria

Robust
Reliable
Easy to install and operate
No modifications to chains
Minimum intervention with subsea equipment
Redundancy

System Configuration
9 Inclinometers (Loggers)
3 Acoustic receivers
Junction box
Fibre optic cable
PC with monitoring software

Chain Table

Logger

Chain Stopper Interface

Isometric view
Side view

Front view

Chain Table

Acoustic
receivers

Monitoring Software
Report mooring line failure
Measure top angle and calculate tension
Maintenance and configuration of data loggers
Evaluate polyester line creep

Mooring Software Home Page

Tension Calculation

Mooring line setup

Routine to
generate tension
lookup table

Set of
lookup
tables
for a
given
line

Angle data
from loggers
Routine to
lookup tension
from table
Draft

Tension

Mooring Line Setup

Polyester
Chain

Mooring Software Line Tension

Alarms Notification Screen

Polyester Line Creep Iteration

Mooring line setup

Routine to
generate tension
lookup table

Set of
lookup
tables
for a
given
line

Recalculate

DGPS Data

Angle data
from loggers

Draft

Iteratively calculate
correction
( Length)

Line Creep

Polyester Line Creep

Polyester
Chain

Conclusion
Monitoring technology is well advanced and proven
Mean tension obtained through angle measurement is easy to
obtain and provides good value
Data must be processed through a good understanding of
mooring line response into useful data
Integrating monitoring as part of an IMR (Inspection,
Maintenance and Repair) program adds value