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Proceedings of the Twenty-third (2013) International Offshore and Polar Engineering www.isope.

org
Anchorage, Alaska, USA, June 30July 5, 2013
Copyright 2013 by the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE)
ISBN 978-1-880653-999 (Set); ISSN 1098-6189 (Set)

A Model Test Study for Liwan 3-1 Mega Jacket Launch in South China Sea

Ding Zhang, (1) Xin Li, (1) Ph.D., Da Li,(2) Yu Liang, (3) Zhuangchun Yang, (3) Xu Sun, (3) and Alan M. Wang (4)
(1)State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Minghang, Shanghai, China
(2)Research Institute, China National Offshore Oil Corporation

Chaoyang, Beijing, China


(3)Shenzhen Division, China National Offshore Oil Corporation

Shenzhen, Guangdong, China


(4)Installation Division, Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd.

Tanggu, Tianjin, China

ABSTRACT launching and upending of the conventional steel jacket. Sekita et al.
(1980) conducted model tests on various twin-barge launching method
The Liwan 3-1 Mega Jacket, the largest jacket ever installed in Asian originally proposed by Blight and Tuturea (1978). Campbell et al.
waters, is located in South China Sea. A corresponding model test of (1991) presented a comprehensive structural measurement program
the jacket launch was conducted in the State Key Laboratory of Ocean performed on the Exxon's Harmony and Heritage large jackets during
Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The entire launching their trans-Pacific tow and subsequent launch in 1989.
system, including the launch barge, the jacket, the viscous drag effect,
the ballast condition, a pair of rocker arms, and a pair of launch ways, This paper introduces a launching model test using the conventional
has been simulated with propositional scale of 1:50. Four different launching method in longitudinal direction. Although the conventional
simulation tests have been successfully conducted for repeatability of jacket launching only counts a very brief duration, in an order of just
model tests and parameter sensitivity studies. The test results include one minute, when compared with a one-month period of the whole
the reaction forces and the rotation angel of rocker arms, the 6-DOF installation, the launch operation plays an important role in the
motions and trajectory of the launched jacket, as well as the motion of installation of jackets, thus determining the moment of success or
launch barge. failure. The experimental simulation was conducted for the 31,200Te
mega jacket with purpose-modified T-shaped barge to more accurately
KEY WORDS: Jacket launch; Model Test; T-Shaped Barge. predict the launch trajectory and the reaction loads on rocker arms and
launch barge structure. This is essentially complementary to the
NOMENCLATURE numerical simulation of the jacket launch due to uncertain effects of T-
shaped launch barge.
6 DOF = 6 degrees of freedom
CNOOC = China National Offshore Oil Corporation The Liwan 3-1 Mega Jacket, the largest jacket ever installed in Asian
COG = Center Of Gravity waters, is located in South China Sea. A model test of the jacket launch
COB = Center of Buoyancy was carried out in the State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering,
Fr = Froude Number Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The scale of the model test is 1:50. A
HYSY = Hai Yang Shi You launching system has been simulated including a launch barge, a jacket,
LW = Li Wan a drag effect, a ballast condition, a pair of rocker arms, and a pair of
SKLOE = State Key Lab of Ocean Engineering launch ways. The coefficient of friction between the jacket launch
Re = Reynolds Number cradles and the launch ways is assumed to 0.06 in the model test. Four
St = Strouhal Number different simulation tests have been successfully conducted for
Te = Metric Ton repeatability of model tests and parameter sensitivity studies. The test
results include the reaction forces and the rotation angel of rocker arm,
INTRODUCTION the 6-DOF motions and trajectory of the launched jacket, as well as the
launch barge motion. The process of launching tests is recorded by
Launching method is a common, and almost only, way for installation high-definition cameras. In addition, drag coefficient tests of the T-
of large jackets, whose technology was developed approximately 40 Shaped barge have also been conducted in the towing basin of Zhejiang
years ago. The traditional method of launching a jacket referred to Ocean University. In the towing tests, 4 different pitch angles have
been performed to obtain different drag coefficients due to variations of
pulling or pushing the jacket in the longitudinal or transverse direction
of the launch barge, or lifting a jacket into water by a derrick barge. submerged launch barge.
Bhattacharyya et al. (1985) did an experimental study on the loadout,
The comparison between two repeated model tests shows that the

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