ENVIRONMENTAL LOAD FACTORS AND SYSTEM STRENGTH EVALUATION OF JACKET PLATFORMS IN OFFSHORE MALAYSIA

API (WSD) and ISO 19902 (LRFD) codes are being used nowadays for design of
Jacket platforms all over the world. ISO LRFD code is a probabilistic code which
takes into account the uncertainties of material and loads and thus enables an
economical design. This advantage is not available for API WSD code. The
sustainable development of physical structures depend not only on reliability of
structures but also on cost saving. Thus it is high time for Malaysia to adopt ISO code
with local environmental load factors. ISO load factors are based on calibration of the
Gulf of Mexico and North Sea environment. In this study, three offshore regions of
Malaysia have been taken separately.