Novel Anchoring Solutions for FLNG - Opportunities Driven by Scale

FLNG facilities present a more onerous anchoring requirement than existing floating structures. Optimisation of the anchoring technology through improved design or through novel anchor types offers potential cost and risk benefits. These benefits may also be applicable to smaller moorings for MODUs and FPSOs. This paper uses concept-level design calculations of anchor capacity to compare different anchor technologies in the context of FLNG and MODU/FPSO applications. Also, new observations from physical modelling of chain-soil interaction are presented. Opportunities are identified for significant cost and schedule savings by adopting the alternative plate anchor technologies that are either suction or dynamically installed. Considering fabrication alone, the estimated costs are reduced by 70% for FLNG and 80% for MODUs relative to the conventional suction caisson option. When installation vessel costs are considered, the absolute cost saving could be far higher than from fabrication alone because installation could be from an anchor-handling vessel rather than a construction barge with a heavy lift crane. Torpedo anchors have also been considered, but are less attractive. Centrifuge model data and calculations of the shape and capacity of the embedded anchor chain suggest that there may be over-looked capacity from the mooring chain both on and within the seabed. At the same time, upscaling of embedded plates to the scale required for FLNG applications increases the amount of chain slack that would be released into the mooring during in service loading, and this effect requires consideration in the overall mooring system design. Research and development activities aligned with the opportunities for reduced cost and risk in anchoring design are set out. Copyright © (2015) by the Offshore Technology Conference All rights reserved.