FLOATOVER BARGE RESPONSES FOR RANDOM WAVES

Floatover method was a novel method of topside installation introduced in the 70s to
overcome the limitations of the conventional crane lifting method. This was due to
the increasing weight of topsides which made it physically impossible currently to
install complex & heavy topsides. It is also compounded by the fact that most of the
heavy lift crane vessels are mostly located in the Gulf of Mexico, thus preventing
installation works in African & Asian regions from being carried out in a timely &
economical marmer. The floatover process itself is a unique method in which it
allows the limitations of the conventional crane lifting method to be overcome on top
of it being easily implemented as barges could be easily refurbished for the floatover
process. The floatover process is however not without its faults, the nature in which it
installs the topside by ballasting makes it particularly susceptible to environmental
loads such as waves. Therefore, this experiment was setup to study into the effects of
random waves affecting the floatover barge. The experiment will focus on identifying
the governing parameters which affect the motion of the barge & this will be
measured by understanding the resultant RAO values. The experiment will study the
effects of significant wave height, peak period & drafts on the barge motions. The
methodology will employ theoretical analysis which involves the use of FroudeKrylov
theories to study the theoretical RAOs. It will be then be compared against
the model test values which will be transformed using the model RAO formula of
-.}SRfS(f) to check for the validity of our theoretical analysis.Findings of the
experiment indicated that the governing factor of the barge RAO is the barge draft
that is adjusted during the installation phase. Factors such as significant wave height
& peak period played an almost non-existent role in affecting the barge's RAO. Thus
as such, it is imperative that further research be done to fine tune the barge draft
values as it greatly reduces barge motions if properly deployed.