Parametric Comparison of Floatover Barge Motions for Regular Waves

Following advancements in the offshore technology, facilities required have
resulted in heavier topside loading for recent platform designs. However, the lift
crane vessels conventionally used for deck (topside) installation is not up to par.
In other words, conventional installations are no longer capable of catering to the
offshore industry requirements. Thus, giving rise to the need for floatover
installation that provides significant advantages over other methods of deck
installation for heavy topsides, especially in areas of the world where access to
heavy construction equipment, trained labour and supplies are not readily
available or reliable.
Due to the relatively foreign technology of floatover installation, research efforts
are being made to understand the motion responses of a floatover barge during its
entire operation from standby to mating of topside and support legs to exit.
Therefore, this project is a collaboration between Technip Geoproduction (M) Sdn
Bhd and Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) to conduct research on the floatover
installation used for a fixed jacket structure, Owez ODP-A in the Caspian
Seas. The research will be done mainly using model tests and numerical analysis.
From model tests and numerical analysis, resulting RAO of the barge model along
with the corresponding motion response will be analyzed to fully understand the
loads triggered by environmental loadings and the resulting barge motions. With
that understanding, the series of ballasting load for transfer of topside onto jacket
legs can be determined to ensure minimum barge impact toward the fender system
at the substructure. This knowledge can then be utilized to mature floatover
installation for jacket structures in Malaysian seas, an unprecedented method for
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