Response of a Truss SPAR Offshore Platform to Environmental Loads (case study : Kikeh Field at Sabah Waters)

The experimental results on the scale model of the first Malaysian SPAR offshore
platform are presented and analysed. The structure, called Kikeh SPAR, has been
designed by overseas consultant, constructed locally in Malaysia and installed in Sabah
waters in 2006. The study targets to fill a vacuum in the design of such important
structures by conducting physical modeling. The properties of the scale model are
known from several tests. Varying the conditions of wave and current, allows the
calibration of force in x-direction. Changing the wave height, wave period, and ballast
conditions, a series of laboratory tests was achieved at 20m x 10m x 1.2m wave basin of
the Coastal Engineering Laboratory, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, under regular
and random waves while SPAR is moored by 10 mooring lines connected to the basin
floor. The dynamic response of the SPAR was monitored by photographic methods and
the heave, surge and pitch of the structure were plotted vs. time. The analysis of the
maximum responses showed the significance of the wave period and ballast condition.
The scale modeling data show a satisfactory similarity with the prototype.