TAP-605-Cooperative Research on Extreme Seas and their Impact to Floating Structures

In the offshore and shipping industry, extreme wave events have led to extensive damage and destruction of offshore structures. Hurricanes Ivan, Rita, Katrina, Gustav and Ike that hit the Gulf of Mexico and severe storm events experienced in the North Sea illustrate the importance of extreme wave design for all types of offshore structures. As the U.S. grows increasingly dependent on the steady supply of energy from federal offshore oil and gas reserves, BOEMRE remains attentive to new technologies that safeguard offshore energy facilities, their personnel, and the environment. This Joint Industry Project (JIP) involving participants from around the world developed models for realistic extreme waves and a design methodology for the loading and response of floating platforms (TLPs, semis and spars) utilized in deepwater areas such as those of the Gulf of Mexico that now constitutes the majority of new OCS development along US borders.