 Strainstall Marine has received an order for a Tendon Tension Monitoring System (TTMS) for a Tension Leg Platform (TLP) being deployed 70 miles offshore in the Campos Basin in Brazil. Situated in the Papa Terra oil field in water depths of around 1200m, the TLP (called P-61) will be the first tension leg well platform in Brazil to be connected to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. The completed facility will be capable of producing up to 140,000 barrels of crude oil per day and 35 million cubic feet of gas, with first production expected in 2013.
The order included 24 Strainstall manufactured Tendon Compression Load Cells rated to 2500 Kips and installed in the tendon porches approximately 120ft below the water surface. The load cell design has been approved by the Classification Society ABS, and specifically designed for a 25 year life and the maximum loads estimated in a 1000 year storm. The strain gauge bridge networks within the load cells are routed to the hull junction boxes via underwater mateable connectors and offshore underwater cables to a PC system located in the hull. Here, Strainstall developed TTMS display software provides the operator with data on the real-time loading and bending moments in each of the 8 the tendons used to moor the TLP, as well as historical and trend data. The TTMS system enhances platform safety by providing warnings should the tendon tension approach the safe working limits, allowing remedial action to be taken. This helps ensure that the TLP remains securely attached to the seabed, and that there is no danger of the tendons becoming overloaded. |
