Numerical Analysis of Inclined Uplift CA

Universal Foundation Suction Bucket
A solution in support for offshore wind
Henrik Lundorf Nielsen

April 2013
Feasibility Assessment - A solution for Near Shore Denmark ?
The Evolution of
– Innovative – yet years of experience:
1997
TekNord
1999
MIG Business
Development
2001
MBD Offshore Power –
2002 R&D of Bucket
Prototype 1 Foundation
2005
Prototype 2
2009
Prototype 3
2011:
Press Release – August 2011:
Fred. Olsen United AS, which is owned 50/50 by Bonheur ASA and Ganger Rolf ASA, has
acquired 60% of Danish company Universal Foundation A/S
Other shareholders: DONG, Aalborg Universitet, Novasion

Fred. Olsen United
• Project management
• Secures a seamless
interface and serves
as single-point of
contact
Fred. Olsen
Universal Foundation Harland and Wolff Windcarrier Natural Power - SeaRoc Global Wind Service
• Design of support • Foundation structure • Marine operations of • Supply and installation of • Installation of wind
structure manufacture at their structures to final site met-mast structures and turbines
shipyard in Belfast equipment • Service & maintenance
• Specialist in
• Fibre repair
engineering and sub- • HSEQ services
seabed installation • Commissioning
Stepping up the Technology Readiness Ladder
Targeting a 2015/16 contract
2016 Execution of WF Project
2015 - Wind Farm Contract - Commercially Ready
2014 – WTG foundation - Field proven - TRL 7
2013-14 – Trial installations - Carbon Trust – TRL 5 and 6
2012-13 – Met Mast Foundations – Dogger Bank, Firth of Forth – TRL 4 and 5
2002–11 R&D – Technology Readiness Level , TRL 0 to 3

A Fred. Olsen related company
Is the Bucket an Opportunity for Near Offshore sites in Denmark ?
Question is:
Does the Suction Bucket work at a given site ?

How does it work – Installation ?

The Universal Foundation Suction Bucket is a Suction Installed CAisson – SICA
”All in one” Substructure and Foundation unit as support for offshore
installations, i.e. met masts, wind turbines, sub stations...
Suction is applied during installation – water evacuation
Suction is NOT maintained during operation
Once installed the SICA is a Gravity Foundation
1:
Evacuation of water creates downward
force limited by the water column
2:
Flow around skirt reduces effective
stresses in soil thereby reducing
resistance
How does it work – Installation ?

How does it work – In Operation ?

Once installed the SICA is a Gravity Foundation
Failure mode is overturning
V
M
Point of rotation
Where does it work ?

Installability & Capability – under which conditions ?
Design Drivers:
Geology
Met Ocean conditions
Superstructure (Wind Turbine)
Main Driver Type Family Grade Penetrability Capacity

Soft
Firm
Clay Stiff
Very Stiff
Hard
Silt Tansition from Clay to Sand
Very Loose
Soil Loose
Sand Medium Dense
Geology
Dense
Very Dense
Clay - Sand - Clay
Layered Soils
Sand - Clay - Sand
Glacial Till Stiff - Hard
Organic Soil
Igneous Magma (Granite, Basalt)
Rock Sedimentary Lithification (Limestone, Sandstone...)
Metamorphic Recrystallization (Slate, Gneiss)
Remark:
In Clay – due to low permeability – flow around skirt is prevented. Penetration
resistance shall be overcome by vertical downward force (Water column).
Experience in Clay is limited,- i.e. Carbon Trust Trial Installation Scheme !
3 Internal Bulkheads to allow additional down force

Soft
Firm
Clay Stiff
Very Stiff
Hard
Silt Tansition from Clay to Sand
Very Loose
Soil Loose
Sand Medium Dense
Geology
Dense
Very Dense
Clay - Sand - Clay
Layered Soils
Sand - Clay - Sand
Glacial Till Stiff - Hard
Organic Soil
Igneous Magma (Granite, Basalt)
Rock Sedimentary Lithification (Limestone, Sandstone...)
Metamorphic Recrystallization (Slate, Gneiss)
Remark:
In Clay – due to low permeability – flow around skirt is prevented. Penetration
resistance shall be overcome by vertical downward force (Water column).
Experience in Clay is limited,- i.e. Carbon Trust Trial Installation Scheme !
3 Internal Bulkheads to allow additional down force

0 - 10 m
10-20 m
Bathymetry Water Depth 20-30 m
30-40 m
Met Ocen
>40-50m
T < f0 (system)
Waves Dynamics T = f0 (system)
T > f0 (system)
Remark:
Water column defines downward force
Dynamic effect gradually governs
Wave load takes dominance over turbine loads

0 - 10 m
10-20 m
Bathymetry Water Depth 20-30 m
30-40 m
Met Ocen
>40-50m
T < f0 (system)
Waves Dynamics T = f0 (system) Load Response Amplification
T > f0 (system)
Remark:
Water column defines downward force
Dynamic effect gradually governs
Wave load takes dominance over turbine loads
Main Driver Type Family Grade Capacity

3 MW
4 MW
5 MW
Wind Turbine
MW nameplate 25 to 45 m WD
6 MW
7 MW
8 MW
System f0 below
Allowable frequency interval System f0 within
System f0 above
Remark:
Threshold of structure tonnage = app. 1200 tonnes (Green colour). Very dependent on
installation vessel crane capacity & method
Integrated design – WTG <> Substructure – will accommodate for for correct system f0
Main Driver Type Family Grade Capacity

3 MW
4 MW
5 MW
Wind Turbine
MW nameplate 25 to 45 m WD
6 MW
7 MW
8 MW
System f0 below
Allowable frequency interval System f0 within
System f0 above
Remark:
Threshold of structure tonnage = app. 1200 tonnes (Green colour). Very dependent on
installation vessel crane capacity & method
Integrated design – WTG <> Substructure – will accommodate for for correct system f0
Wind Turbine:
Case study .... Fine tuning system f0 to avoid resonance = load
amplification
Typical deflection shapes for first few modes and load

amplification as fuction of damping.... Typical damping
estimate = 10 – 15% (soil contribution 2% - 4%) =>
H(f) = 3 to 4
Note: This affects SLS and FLS load cases only

The Bucket = ”MP like” shaft but stiffer however not as stiff
as Jacket... Can be tailored by tapered shaft, lid design ...
Typical WTG ranges
System f0 depends on Nacelle/Rotor Mass, Tower, Water
Depth...
Narrow feasible frequency band – here soft - hard

f0
It calls for Integrated design – load loop iteration

Trade off to find the cost optimal solution
Then lets assume we got the integrated design right – what value
proposition is to be expected:
Simplified ULS perspective:
ULS moment as function of Rotordiameter
1000
900
ULS Overturning Moment
800
700
30 m Mudline
600
MNm
500 40 m Mudline
Wave & WTG
400
25 m Mudline
300
200 Lineær (Tower bottom extreme
WTG bending moment)
100
0
60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Rotor Diameter
Simplified ULS perspective - continued:
Suction Bucket Tonnage as function of

Mudline Resulting Moment
1600
1400
1200
1000
tons
800
600
400
200
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
Resulting moment @ mudline
ULS, MNm
The Cost perspective

To say something clever on Cost level would need a specific project estimate…
Significant contribution to shorten Project Schedule – LCoE is reduced significantly
Cost per unit

100% 100%
96%
90%
80%
70% 72%
69%
Index
60% 60%
57%
50%
40%
30% 31%
20%
0 10 20 30 40 50
Nos of Structures
In conclusion:
The Bucket will be a feasible support structure given the right soils and Met Ocean
conditions…
Tonnage: Site Specific Design required…
At a cost of - too early to say…
All to be confirmed …. i.e we need:
Geotechnical info
Met Ocean info
WTG-Support Structure - integrated design initiated
- Design Basis
- Load Loop Iteration
- Detailed design / Interface concept
Feasibility Assessment - A solution for the ALSTOM Hal150 @ Belwind II ?
Dogger Bank Campaign February 2013
Dogger Bank Met Mast East - SCADA screen dump....
Penetration: 7.31 m
Duration: 6 hrs 46 min Expanding this to full scale project the positive
Verticality: 0,09 degrees impact on project schedule is huge !!
Thank you !

Numerical Analysis of Inclined Uplift CA

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Universal Foundation Suction Bucket

A solution in support for offshore wind

Henrik Lundorf Nielsen

Other shareholders: DONG, Aalborg Universitet, Novasion

Stepping up the Technology Readiness Ladder

Targeting a 2015/16 contract

2016 Execution of WF Project

2015 - Wind Farm Contract - Commercially Ready

2014 – WTG foundation - Field proven - TRL 7

2013-14 – Trial installations - Carbon Trust – TRL 5 and 6

2002–11 R&D – Technology Readiness Level , TRL 0 to 3

A Fred. Olsen related company

Is the Bucket an Opportunity for Near Offshore sites in Denmark ?

Does the Suction Bucket work at a given site ?

How does it work – Installation ?

How does it work – Installation ?

How does it work – In Operation ?

Where does it work ?

Main Driver Type Family Grade Penetrability Capacity

Main Driver Type Family Grade Penetrability Capacity

Main Driver Type Family Grade Penetrability Capacity

Main Driver Type Family Grade Penetrability Capacity

Main Driver Type Family Grade Capacity

Main Driver Type Family Grade Capacity

Typical deflection shapes for first few modes and load

Note: This affects SLS and FLS load cases only

Narrow feasible frequency band – here soft - hard

It calls for Integrated design – load loop iteration

Simplified ULS perspective - continued:

Suction Bucket Tonnage as function of

The Cost perspective

Cost per unit

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