Enhancement of Structural Reliability of Jacket Platforms in Malaysian Waters for Life Extension

Most of the jacket platforms that belongs to PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd have been operated more than their service life for Enhancement of Oil Recovery (EOR). However, it is uncertain to claim the platforms are safe for life extension. Hence, enhancement of structural reliability becomes a necessity to justify the platform is safe throughout the EOR period. In this paper, the effect of local joint flexibility on enhancement of structural reliability of offshore jacket structure in Malaysia waters will be studied. Rigid joint assumptions made during software modelling of jacket structures, had been practiced for past decades. While, standards such as API RP2A-WSD only applies local joint flexibility to the fatigue life analysis. However, past researches show that tubular joints of offshore structure in reality are not fully rigid but possesses flexibilities.