Hurricanes

The objective of the study is to develop a database of wind, sea state and currents resulting from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita meteorological data and application of advanced hindcast models. Oceanweather Inc. (OWI) responded to urgent industry needs for a preliminary assessment of the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by performing and distributing to several offshore operators an emergency response (ER) wind and wave hindcast.

This project assesses potential solutions to the disruptions of production restart from hydrates affecting pipelines after a long shut in period such as a hurricane. Work shows that it may be possible to reduce the risk of hydrate plugging by selecting an appropriate restart rate. MMS and industry will use the results of this project to reduce the risk of having hydrates stop production restarts.

The objective of this effort was to conduct a qualitative and quantitative assessment of fixed offshore platforms that were affected by Hurricane Katrina and/or Rita. Resulting data was evaluated to determine if any common trends occurred, and also to determine if current API standards are an accurate indicator of expected performance. Coordination and consultation with the API HEAT group occurred throughout the project.

The Offshore Federal Oil & Gas infrastructure includes over 4,000 platforms, some extending in life over 40 years. Extreme wave crests and wave heights beyond those envisioned during of 100-year storm events were experienced during recent hurricane events and are believed to have resulted in the destruction and/or damage of hundreds of offshore fixed and floating structures.

The objective of this research proposal was to develop a procedure to estimate local and global green water loads at the point of contact between extreme wave crests and offshore structures.

Project to provide facilitation for the break-out sessions of the Offshore Hurricane Readiness & Recovery Conference and prepare a report capturing the findings, issues, and opportunities to improve that are identified by the conference.

In September 2004, a category-4 hurricane, Hurricane Ivan, moved through the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (GOM) with extreme winds and waves exceeding the 100-year storm design criteria of offshore facilities in the storm path. Approximately 10,000 miles of pipelines were in the direct path of Hurricane Ivan. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) received industry damage assessment reports identifying damage to the offshore pipeline infrastructure.

During 2004 and 2005, Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina, and Rita damaged and destroyed hundreds of Gulf of Mexico (GOM) offshore pipelines and platforms, many from mudslides both in line with and adjacent to the hurricanes' path. This two-phase project examined the mudflow/mudslide areas in the high risk mudslide regions of the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Mississippi Delta in order to better understand these events.

Drilling and workover rigs on Floating Production Systems (FPSs) are fastened to the decks of offshore structures sea fastenings to prevent movement during hurricanes. During Hurricane Ivan, a number of drilling or workover rigs shifted. These movements are being assessed along with the current design philosophy and criteria for storm sea fastenings, rig and storm sea fastening installation practices, and onboard storm operational practices to ready FPSs for a hurricane. Results will provide information that can be used to assess any needs to revise tie-down criteria or practices.

During Hurricane Ivan in 2004, a number of Gulf of Mexico (GOM) pipelines and platforms were believed to have been impacted by mudslides in the region of Ivan's path. This project, proposed under two phases, will provide hazard information for the design and placement of new pipelines and structures by determining the applicability of developing regionally consistent hazard maps that delineate relative susceptibility of GOM offshore regions to future submarine mudslides, including identification of past and future probable locations of underwater slope failures.

Based on the damage data collected from Hurricanes Ivan (2004), Andrew (1992) and Lili (2002), this project determined the effectiveness of current structural design standards and MMS regulations.

It analyzed the effectiveness of API RP2A and Section 17 to see if both, the MMS regulations and API standards perform as expected for the Assessment of Existing Fixed Platforms. The Final Report presented recommendations on how to avoid damages from a hurricane of a similar size to Ivan, Lili or Andrew.