BP - HORN MOUNTAIN
Gulf of Mexico, USA - 2002

Platform

The BP Horn Mountain platform has a truss SPAR substructure with a topside structure having three levels of plated-decks. The platform location is the Gulf of Mexico in a water depth of 1645.9m.

Challenge

To ascertain blast response capacity of primary structural members together with secondary structures holding escape routs, in the event of critical blast scenarios.

MSL Scope

MSL’s scope of activities were divided into three Phases:

• Phase 1 involved the collation of necessary data and agree to all relevant loading, blast overpressure, response assessment methodology and the survival criteria.

• Phase 2 involved conducting a three-tier structural response analysis, e.g., static assessment using equivalent static linear analyses, single degree of freedom (SDOF) dynamic response analyses and multi degree of freedom (MDOF) non-linear progressive collapse analyses.

• Phase 3 included identifying the blast response capacity of the safety critical elements in the way of the escape routes and the evacuation points including stair towers and blast walls.

Benefits

With proper planning, the project could be completed ahead of schedule. The study indicated isolated vulnerable areas needing future investigation into mitigation of blast occurrences and reassessment of overpressure computations. The study also provided guidance for future design and detailing critical connections subject to blast loading.

       Analysis on Topside Module