Cms 830 03 GL 70021 Jacket Foundation Design
Cms 830 03 GL 70021 Jacket Foundation Design
1.0 PURPOSE
This guideline defines the process that should be used in the analysis and design of fixed offshore
structures (jackets) supported by steel pipe piles driven in the seabed for offshore oil and gas industry
projects. The collation of necessary data and technical procedures required to undertake detailed
foundation analysis and design are also discussed in this guideline.
Other types of fixed offshore structures include Gravity Base Structures (GBS). These are often
concrete structures which typically rest on skirted shallow foundations and therefore are not part of this
guideline.
2.0 SCOPE
This guideline applies to all engineers performing foundation analysis and design of fixed offshore
structures (jackets) supported by steel pipe piles driven into the seabed.
3.0 RESPONSIBILITIES
The following personnel have responsibilities defined in this guideline:
Project Lead Engineer
Geotechnical Engineer
4.0 GUIDELINE
4.1 General
4.1.1 Pile foundations for North Sea jackets are typically between 2 and 3m in diameter and
are installed by driving to depths that could approach 90 to 100m. The procedures to
be followed in the design of the foundations cover installation, in-place, and fatigue
conditions.
4.1.2 Prior to pile installation, the jacket will be temporarily supported on mudmats. A
mudmat is a steel base plate located under each of the jacket corners and provides
stability to the jacket prior to pile driving. Pile sleeves act as a guide for the piles
during driving. The required on-bottom stability considerations are also described.
The jacket installation and piling are usually performed using a semi-submersible crane
vessel (SSCV). These activities are described elsewhere in CMS-830-03-SP-71011.
4.1.3 Steel jackets supported on large suction caissons, termed buckets, have also been
installed in the North Sea as an alternative to piles. These buckets are stiffened cans
of large diameters (over 10m) and are installed in the seabed with the aid of suction.
The geotechnical design process for the design and installation of such an innovative
concept are also discussed briefly.
4.1.4 The foundation design shall be conducted in accordance with recognised codes and
standards including API RP2A (WSD or LRFD), HSE guidelines, DnV classification
notes 30.4 and ISO 19902 – see Section 5.0, References.
4.1.5 Additionally, relevant CMS documents shall apply including those for Offshore
Geotechnical Survey, Offshore Pile Installation, Grouting Piles, Jacket Transportation
and Installation and Offshore Structures - Substructure Design.
4.1.6 Project Related Documents
Site investigation, laboratory testing and foundation reports specific to the Platform site
shall be identified and listed in this section.
4.1.7 During the detailed design phase, drawings and specifications shall be prepared
containing sufficient information to enable fabrication and installation contractors to
safely fabricate and install the substructure including the foundations.
a. 125 blows per 250mm (150 blows per foot) over at least
1.5m (5 consecutive feet) of penetration,
or
b. 125 blows per 250mm (150 blows per foot) increasing
to 200 blows per 250mm (250 blows per foot) over 1.0m
(3 consecutive feet) of penetration,
or
c. 200 blows over the last 250mm (250 blows over the last
foot) of penetration.
2. Curves of predicted blowcounts versus depth shall be developed
for the selected pile and hammer combination.
3. Checks shall be carried out to ensure that refusal is not predicted
at a shallower penetration than that required for the design.
4. Comparisons shall be made with similar data developed by the
Offshore Installation Contractor, OIC.
4.3.3.5 Piling Contingencies
Consideration shall be given to premature refusal, drilling out of the pile
plug, restart of driving, set-up etc.
4.3.3.6 Allowable Pile Underdrive
Any pile wall thickening at the mudline, and / or weld beads shall be
extended down the pile for an appropriate distance to accommodate
underdrive of the piles in the event of premature refusal during driving.
4.3.3.7 Pile Acceptance Criteria
1. Driveability predictions shall show whether the design pile
penetration can be achieved at the borehole offering maximum
resistance. If not, the pile wall thickness or outside diameter or the
number of piles may have to be increased.
2. Piles shall be deemed acceptable if the target penetration is
achieved.
4.3.4 Pile Load-Deflection Behaviour
4.3.4.1 Introduction
1. The piles should be designed to withstand static and cyclic, lateral
and axial loading. To model the effects of soil non-linearity, it will
be necessary to develop non-linear models for the soil’s lateral and
axial resistance-deformation relationships for the piles considered.
2. The following sections describe the methodologies that may be
used in calculation of the soil resistance - pile deflection (p-y, t-z, q-
z) data and in developing the pile axial, lateral and torsional
responses. The non-linearity in the soil behaviour is therefore
incorporated into the foundation analyses.
4.3.4.2 Load-Deflection Behaviour
1. Lateral Load-Deflection Behaviour
a. Lateral soil resistance pile deflection (p-y) curves for
cyclic loading should be developed using methods
proposed by Matlock for clays, and by O’Neill and
Murchison for sands, as recommended in API RP2A.
b. The design soil parameters for lateral load analysis of
the piles should be based on the interpreted soil
parameters, including the coefficient of subgrade
2. The dynamics of the free-standing pile and the pile with hammer
placed shall be assessed.
3. The maximum allowable wave height for pile installation operations
shall be determined.
4.3.6.12 Pile Self-Weight Penetrations
1. The self-weight penetration of the pile alone and the pile with
hammer shall be estimated by calculating the combined
submerged self-weight, and determining the corresponding
penetration using soil resistance calculations based on the
available CPT results and empirical factors.
2. Minimum penetrations shall be obtained by equating the resistance
to the weight.
3. Maximum penetrations shall be obtained by equating the loss in
potential energy following pile release to the work done in
overcoming soil resistance – Toolan and Fox.
4.3.6.13 Design of Pile Sleeve Centralisers
1. Pile sleeve centralisers shall be designed so that the pile passes
through the sleeve without damaging the packer (or the grout seal)
under the most extreme conditions set by the following tolerances:
a. Maximum and minimum diameters of pile, sleeve and
the grout seal/ packer can;
b. Out-of-straightness of tubulars;
c. Maximum height of weld beads.
2. The centraliser setting-out radius shall be determined to ensure
clearance between the pile weld beads and the centralisers.
3. The minimum clearance between the pile outer surface and the
packer (or the keeper-plates holding the grout seal in place) shall
be checked to ensure this complies with the manufacturer’s
recommendations.
4. Centralisers should be designed to withstand the loads (pile self-
weight) applied during lowering of the pile through the sleeve.
5. The minimum number of centralisers shall be determined on the
basis of those necessary to align the pile, to protect the packer (or
grout seal) and to withstand the loads due to pile stabbing.
4.3.7 Grouted Connection
4.3.7.1 Design Method
The pile sleeve grouted connections shall be designed according to the
HSE Guidelines.
4.3.7.2 Design Loads
1. The design axial load to be used in determining the grouted
connection length shall be based on the maximum individual pile
load determined from unfactored extreme and operating storm load
cases for the in-place condition.
2. The following overall factors-of-safety shall be used to determine
grouted connection lengths, based on the HSE Guidelines:
Where:
d = depth of tip of penetrating member
kp (z) = empirical coefficient relating qc to end
resistance
kf (z) = empirical coefficient relating qc to skin
friction
qc (z) = average cone resistance at depth z
Ap = tip area of penetrating member
As = side area of penetrating member per
unit depth of penetration
5.0 REFERENCES
Houlsby, G.T. and Wroth, C.P. “Calculation of Stresses on Shallow Penetrometers and Footings”
in Seabed Mechanics, ed. B. Denness, Proc. IUTAM Symposium,
pp. 107 - 112.
Hansen, J.B. “A Revised and Extended Formula for Bearing Capacity” Danish
Geotechnical Institute, Bulletin No. 28, pp. 5-11, 1970.
The Engineering Equipment Construction Specification for Fixed Offshore Structures in the
and Materials Users North Sea Publication No. 158 (Revised 1994).
Association (EEMUA)
Andersen, K.H. and Jostad, “Foundation Design of Skirted Foundations and Anchors in Clay”,
H.P. Proc Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, OTC 10824,
1999.
6.0 TERMINOLOGY
None
7.0 EXHIBITS
None