SS: Jack-up Technology: Improved Guidelines for the Prediction of Geotechnical Performance of Spudcan Foundations During Installation and Removal of Jack-up Units

Abstract

Abstract Incidents of unpredicted, and often adverse, jack-up foundation performance continue to occur regularly, while the safety records of other jack-up activities, such as towing, drilling, structural fatigue, collision, fire and blow-outs have improved significantly. Even with comprehensive site assessment procedures in place, and at a time when the jack-up industry is increasingly focused on the control of risks, foundation incidents continue to occur. To address these issues a Joint Industry Funded Project (" InSafeJIP??) has been launched with the intention of developing a document titled " Improved Guidelines for the Prediction of Geotechnical Performance of Spudcan Foundations during Installation and Removal of Jack-up Units??. This JIP is being supported by a wide range of organizations, with representation from:5 Drilling Contractors 5 Operators 4 Marine Warranty Surveyors1 Classification Authority 1 Legislative Authority 1 JU Designer and Builder2 Geotechnical SI Contractors / ConsultantsThe work is being undertaken by a Project Team drawn from the following Universities:National University of Singapore Oxford University The University of Western Australia This fast track initiative is being project managed by RPS Energy with support from Keppel FELS, and the Guideline is scheduled for Industry release possibly as early as 2010. Introduction The overall safety of offshore operations continues to improve at an appreciable rate, but similar success is not being achieved on the predictability, and consequential safety, of jack-up rigs during installation and extraction operations. Unpredictable jack-up foundation performance during installation regularly leads to rig damage, lost production time and project delay with severe cost implications, and at worst can endanger personnel (Osborne et al., 2006).