Offshore Engineering & Analysis

Learning Outcomes

Full CEng Programme Level Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Students compare theory with experimental observations on station keeping of floating offshore structures and are assessed on their ability to explain differences between the two.
• Material property impacts of mooring system design and impacts on corrosion, fatigue are taught.
• Decommissioning of offshore structures and the socioethical considerations, legal responsibilities and processes of regulation are covered.
• Labs are done in groups. The assessments are individual but the data gathering and calibration etc are done as a team.
• The consider trade-offs between surface structures, mooring lines and seafloor anchoring where all aspects impact each other's design.
• Decommissioning of offshore structures and the socioethical considerations, legal responsibilities and processes of regulation are covered.
• Different methods to solve the same problem are taught and assessed. The limitations and assumptions of the different approaches (simplified models and iterative solvers) are taught and the ability to recognise these points is assessed in their lab assignment. Lab data is provided to the students raw and they are required to process and filter data as part of this.
• Students are taught about environmental loads on offshore structures, and how to engineer systems to resist those and ultimately transmit forces and loads into seafloor sediments. Trade-offs of different design solutions are discussed. They learn about modelling methods to design competent systems and are assessed in assignments and an exam.
• Students do a lab where they gather and process data in the towing tank. Sensor data is taken and analysed.
• Motivations for offshore structures, the current state and distribution of energy infrastructure in the ocean are taught. Constraints on system location, and processes for decommissioning and dealing with accidents and the legal framework around this is taught. These aspects are assessed in the final exam.
• Decommissioning of offshore structures and the socioethical considerations, legal responsibilities and processes of regulation are covered. Students learn that compromises are needed and how costs of different decommissioning methods are assessed during derogation clauses. Real world case studies and rationale for those decisions are taught.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Comprehensive understanding of the underpinning principles and implications of fluid-structure interaction and the whole life loading of different offshore structures.
• Critically evaluate the principal issues related to the selection of structure type, method of analysis and modelling approach for novel offshore scenarios in shipping, offshore oil & gas production and renewable offshore energy extraction.
• Understand the strengths and limitations of different approaches to offshore systems and solutions throughout and beyond the design life cycle of the structure. Apply this knowledge to comprehensively evaluate complex environmental constraints and formulate design solutions.
• Comprehensively understand underpinning concepts and apply design principles needed for different offshore structures to maintain their position and stability. Make use of advanced analytic and numerical techniques understanding the limitations of the different simplifying assumptions
• Practical knowledge of acquiring data from laboratory experiments; applying computational statistical analysis to gathered data and formulating critical arguments; planning and organisation of experiment activities in a group setting.
• Ability to critically assess the different ways in which offshore systems can affect the environment during installation, operation, during and after decommissioning. Knowledge of various methods to monitor these and principles underlying the governing policies.

Introduction:

• General overview of offshore operations and environment
• Types of offshore structures

Fluid-structure interactions:

• Ocean waves and wave loads
• Platform oscillations: Linear oscillators and wave induced motions
• Viscous loads and Morison equation
• Vortex induced vibrations (VIV)

Station-keeping & structures:

• Basic concepts to design for station-keeping : Mooring lines
• 1D and 2D line stiffness considerations
• Structural strength and long term operation/resilience

Stability of seabed infrastructure:

• Introduction to geotechnics
• Foundations and anchors
• Seabed cables

Teaching methods include

• Lectures
• Tutorials and coursework
• Lecture notes and slides including case study and analysis examples
• Laboratory experiment of offshore related structures in waves
• Computer labs using python for data analysis and problem solving

Learning activities include:

• Directed reading/independent learning
• Problem solving exercises using worksheets
• Report-writing for the assignments
• Coursework include analytical and numerical methods, and experimental data analysis

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.