ABSTRACT

The Terra Nova FPSO is located on the Grand Banks, offshore Eastern Newfoundland, Canada, in 95 meters of water. The FPSO has been designed with an internal turret mooring system that must withstand the harsh 100-year storm environment, and be disconnectable to avoid collision with large icebergs. The paper focuses on the integration of a comprehensive model test program with the sophisticated analytical and numerical global analysis performed on the FPSO system. The paper illustrates the importance of the model test program as a tool in the conceptual design, verification of the global analysis, and detailed engineering and installation of the system. In addition, the model test program provided the opportunity to study what-if scenarios, and was an effective instrument in obtaining certifying and regulatory authority approval. As the Terra Nova FPSO is the first floating production system to operate in an iceberg region, a major focus of the model test program was to study the interaction of pack ice and icebergs with the FPSO system.

Introduction

The Terra Nova FPSO will be located in approximately 95 meters water depth on the Grand Banks off the East Coast of Newfoundland, Canada. First oil is expected in the first quarter of 2001. The region has a harsh environment, much like the Northern North Sea, with intense storms occurring frequently in winter. In addition, there is sea ice excursion into the region, including pack ice and icebergs. The FPSO system consists of a new-build FPSO vessel and a disconnectable turret with a thruster-assisted, 9-leg mooring system, supporting 14 risers and 5 umbilicals. The internal turret mooring system has been designed to maintain on station in the 100-year storm environment, and to be disconnectable only to avoid an approaching iceberg on a collision course.

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