Offshore Engineering Basin |
Measuring 75 x 32 meters, the Offshore Engineering
Basin is one of the worlds most advanced for modeling offshore structures, as
well as other marine systems. The facility is equipped to simulate virtually
any ocean state by means of its 168 computer-controlled wavemakers and an advanced
current generation system. Wind, waves, and current can all be modeled simultaneously,
and water depth can be varied from 0.5 to 2.8 meters. Models are either moored
or self-propelled, with their motions tracked by a six-degree of freedom optical
tracking system. A 48-channel digital radio telemetry link collects data from
model-mounted sensors.
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Wave Making System (Power)
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Max. Wave Height (Regular Waves)
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Sig. Wave Height (Irregular Waves)
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Articulation of Waves (Modes)
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Flapper, Piston, Combination
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Regular, Irregular, Bi-Modal, Multi-directional
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Water-depth Dependent (0.5m/sec. at 1m depth; 0.25m/sec. at 2m depth; 0.2m/sec. at 2.8m depth)
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11m/sec at 1m from Fan, 5m/sec at 5m from Fan
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Turbulent Wind Spectrum
Mean Speed |
12m/sec |
Wind Spectra |
American Petroleum Institute Standard, Norwegian Petroleum
Directorate Standard, Other Industry Standards |
Optical Tracking System Accuracy |
±1mm Moored Models, ±5mm Free-running Models |
Instrumentation and Equipment:
- Hydraulically Actuated Multi-directional Wave Making System (generates
any mathematical spectrum; matches time series data within wave board specs;
accommodates water depths 0.1m to 3.2m using vertical adjustment)
- 168 Computer-controlled Wave Makers in "L" Configuration
- Fixed and Movable Passive Wave Absorbers
- Capacitance and Ultrasonic Probes (measure waves)
- Electromagnetic and Acoustic Flow Meters
- Optical Tracking System (gives simultaneous high speed measurement of position
and orientation of multiple bodies in six degrees of freedom)
- 1000 HP Recirculating Current System (covers
entire basin)
- Automatic or Manual Wind Generation System (includes two movable banks
of six fans -- each fan having six blades, 530mm diameter, 3hp DC motor)
- VMS and Windows NT Client/Server System for Data Acquisition (256 channel
capability at 100kHz aggregate, 16 bit resolution)
- 48 Channel Digital Radio Telemetry Link (collects data from model-mounted
sensors)
- 5000kg Moveable Overhead Crane (services entire basin)
- Truncated mooring system for deepwater modelling
Applications:
- Testing of Moored Floating Systems or Gravity Base Structures in Wind,
Waves and Current
- Testing of Free-running and Self-propelled Ship Models
Tests Performed:
- Seakeeping
- Maneuvering
- Wave Energy Conversion
- Wave Impact Loads on Ships or Offshore Structures
- Tow out, Set Down, and Operation of Offshore Structures
- Mooring/riser evaluation
Related Projects:
- Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring (CALM) Buoy Designs - An investigation of hydrodynamic
characteristics in extreme environmental conditions.
- Deck-wave Impact Study - Performance evaluation of three jacket structures,
two gravity base structures and walkway modules, involving: wave loading,
deck impact loads, wave refraction off gravity base structures at a variety
of water depths.
- A Disconnectable Buoy Turret Mooring System - Tests involving: load excursion
on three anchor legs, horizontal excursion with an FPSO attached to buoy,
vertical excursion with FPSO disconnected, surge decay on the FPSO connected
to the buoy.
- FPSO in Extreme Conditions - Tests covering full mooring spread and modeling
of risers, dynamic positioning performance (with fully-operational dynamic
positioning system available), turret loads, vessel motions, life boat launching,
and failure scenarios.
- Global and Local Force on a GBS - Performance evaluation in a variety of
water depths and sea conditions.
- Jacket and Soft Yoke Single Point Mooring (SPM) System for shallow water
- An evaluation of different system configurations in extreme (100 year) environmental
conditions, and including: FPSO motions, relative wave elevation with respect
to the hull, green water on the forecastle deck, tensions in the mooring legs,
roll and pitch of the mooring yoke, yoke yaw, longitudinal, transverse and
vertical loads in the yoke roll and pitch articulation, and wave elevation
above still water.
- SPM Buoy, Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) Vessel and Shuttle Tanker
- An investigation of motions, hawser and mooring line loads in variety of
wind, wave and current.
- Six-column Semisubmersible Drilling/Production Unit - Tests involving: the
hydrodynamic characteristics of the design and the likely performance both
in calm water and in waves, model motions, model accelerations, mooring line
loads, and air-gap/wave run-up elevations.
- Tandem Study of a FPSO, FSO and Shuttle Tanker - Testing motion and loads
in a variety of wind, waves and currents.
- Three-column Semisubmersible Mobile Offshore Production Unit - Tests investigating
the hydrodynamic characteristics of the design of the unit and its likely
performance in calm water, waves and current.
Download Specification Sheet
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