General information
Single point mooring to a CALM buoy in shallow water has been the most important offloading option for many years. Nowadays it is also the preferred option for a lot of deep water field developments in combination with an FPSO for production and storage. Although the system looks simple, the hydrodynamics are not simple at all. Even in collinear environments of wind, waves and current ‘fish-tailing’ can occur of the shuttle tanker with its bow hawser connected to the buoy. The (viscous) damping forces that control these motions are extremely complex and require special attention in the numerical simulations of single point moorings.
Single point mooring to a CALM buoy in shallow water has been the most important offloading option for many years. Nowadays it is also the preferred option for a lot of deep water field developments in combination with an FPSO for production and storage. Although the system looks simple, the hydrodynamics are not simple at all. Even in collinear environments of wind, waves and current ‘fish-tailing’ can occur of the shuttle tanker with its bow hawser connected to the buoy. The (viscous) damping forces that control these motions are extremely complex and require special attention in the numerical simulations of single point moorings.
Services & Activities
The Offshore Department has a lot of experience in the testing and numerical modelling of single point mooring operations. The TERMSIM tool was developed in the 1980’s to simulate the observed behaviour. Recently, as part of this ‘Offloading Operability’ JIP, this methodology was taken incorporated in the new SHUTTLE tool. These dedicated tools can be applied for our clients.
The Trials & Monitoring Department has been involved in full-scale measurements on several CALM buoys.
The Offshore Department has a lot of experience in the testing and numerical modelling of single point mooring operations. The TERMSIM tool was developed in the 1980’s to simulate the observed behaviour. Recently, as part of this ‘Offloading Operability’ JIP, this methodology was taken incorporated in the new SHUTTLE tool. These dedicated tools can be applied for our clients.
The Trials & Monitoring Department has been involved in full-scale measurements on several CALM buoys.
Facilities & Tools
Single point mooring model tests are carried out in the following MARIN facilities :
Single point mooring model tests are carried out in the following MARIN facilities :
- Offshore Basin: model tests in combined current, waves and wind
- Shallow Water Basin: model tests in shallow water
The following tools are used to study the behaviour of single point moorings :
DIFFRAC: 3-D potential theory including wave diffraction
DRIFTP/DBDRIFT: Second order wave excited (drift) forces
LIFSIM/LIFMOT: Analysis of multi body dyamics and lift operations
TERMSIM: Assessment of dynamic line and fender loads for moored tankers
DRIFTP/DBDRIFT: Second order wave excited (drift) forces
LIFSIM/LIFMOT: Analysis of multi body dyamics and lift operations
TERMSIM: Assessment of dynamic line and fender loads for moored tankers
Software Sales
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Experience
The list below gives a review of single point mooring projects carried out at MARIN:
The list below gives a review of single point mooring projects carried out at MARIN:
- Erha deepwater CALM buoy large scale model tests, scale 1:28.75 (SBM, 2003)
- Kizomba SPM model tests, scale 1:60 (Single Buoy Moorings Inc., 2002)
- Bonga SPM model tests, scale 1:60 (Single Buoy Moorings Inc., 2001)
- Mooring tests on a shallow water CALM buoy (Bluewater, 1997)
- Australian North West Shelf CALM (Bluewater, 1996)
The list below gives a review of Joint Industry Projects involving single point moorings carried out by MARIN:
- Offloading Operability (development of SHUTTLE)
- TERMSIM II Development
Most recent single point mooring papers presented by MARIN
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
A New Method to Optimise the Operability of Deepwater Offloading Operations
Hielke Brugts (Bluewater Energy Services), Jos van Doorn, Tim Bunnik and Bas Buchner (MARIN), Deep Offshore Technology Conference (DOT), Vitoria, 2005
Coupled Mooring Analysis for a Deep Water CALM Buoy
Cozijn, J. L. and Bunnik, T.H.J., OMAE Conference, Vancouver, 2004
DP FPSO – A Fully Dynamically Positioned FPSO for Ultra Deep Waters
Joaquin Lopez-Cortijo (IZAR FENE), Arun S. Duggal (FMC SOFEC Floating Systems), Radboud R.T. van Dijk (MARIN) and Sergio Matos (, ISOPE Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2003
F(P)SO Offloading Concepts, their Nautical Feasibility and Safety Assessment
J.T.M. van Doorn and D. ten Hove (MARIN), Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston, 2002
Coupled Mooring Analysis in Large Scale Model Tests on a Deepwater CALM Buoy in Mild Wave Conditions
Bunnik, T.H.J., de Boer, G., Cozijn, J. L., van der Cammen, J., van Haaften, E. and ter Brake E., OMAE Conference, Oslo, 2002
Hielke Brugts (Bluewater Energy Services), Jos van Doorn, Tim Bunnik and Bas Buchner (MARIN), Deep Offshore Technology Conference (DOT), Vitoria, 2005
Coupled Mooring Analysis for a Deep Water CALM Buoy
Cozijn, J. L. and Bunnik, T.H.J., OMAE Conference, Vancouver, 2004
DP FPSO – A Fully Dynamically Positioned FPSO for Ultra Deep Waters
Joaquin Lopez-Cortijo (IZAR FENE), Arun S. Duggal (FMC SOFEC Floating Systems), Radboud R.T. van Dijk (MARIN) and Sergio Matos (, ISOPE Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, 2003
F(P)SO Offloading Concepts, their Nautical Feasibility and Safety Assessment
J.T.M. van Doorn and D. ten Hove (MARIN), Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston, 2002
Coupled Mooring Analysis in Large Scale Model Tests on a Deepwater CALM Buoy in Mild Wave Conditions
Bunnik, T.H.J., de Boer, G., Cozijn, J. L., van der Cammen, J., van Haaften, E. and ter Brake E., OMAE Conference, Oslo, 2002
Most recent single point mooring articles written for MARIN Report
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
A simulation tool to optimise tandem offloading operations
Jos van Doorn, MARIN Report, 2007
JIPs ‘Offloading Operability’ and ‘FPSO Roll’
Bas Buchner & Henk van den Boom, MARIN Report, 2001
Jos van Doorn, MARIN Report, 2007
JIPs ‘Offloading Operability’ and ‘FPSO Roll’
Bas Buchner & Henk van den Boom, MARIN Report, 2001
Contact
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with the issue of single point mooring, please contact:
For model test and simulation activities: Offshore Department
For full scale measurements: Trials and Monitoring Department
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with the issue of single point mooring, please contact:
For model test and simulation activities: Offshore Department
For full scale measurements: Trials and Monitoring Department