The use of drag embedment anchors

in offshore applications
by
Senol Ozmutlu
Vryhof Anchors BV Netherlands

OTEO International Conference on Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May

2012, Porto

Contents

Introduction
Mooring systems
Offshore foundations: Anchors
Fluke anchors (Stevpris, Stevshark) and Plate anchors (Stevmanta VLA)
Design
Installation

Real time tracking of anchor parameters (Stevtrack)

Selected project examples and reliability levels
Conclusions

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

The vryhof scope:

design, manufacturing and supply of High Holding Power (HHP) anchors and
tensioning equipment

selection and supply of fit-to-purpose mooring line components and connectors

on behalf of clients

operating an alliance of leading manufacturers of mooring line components

Installation assistance

Engineering services

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Company milestones:

1972

incorporation and Stevin anchor introduction

1982

Stevpris anchor introduction

1990

vryhof group diversification program

1992

introduction of the mooring specialists alliance

1996

Stevmanta VLA concept introduction

1998

Stevmanta proven and operational offshore Brazil

2000

introduction of Deeprope

Stevin, Stevpris, Stevshark, Stevmanta, Stevtensioner, Stevtrack.

HQ and R&D is near Rotterdam with fabrication at Rotterdam Port
Offices: Mooreast (Singapore) - Moorwest (Houston) - Vryhof do Brazil - Vryhof Russia

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Many offshore units around the world are floating structures and are moored
OIL & GAS

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

RENEWABLE ENERGY & OFFSHORE CONSTRUCTION

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Projects in Renewable Energy Sector

Completed projects
Mooring of Wave Energy devices Offshore Scotland
Mooring of Spar type Floating windmill HYWIND Offshore Norway
Mooring of Semi-sub type Floating windmill WINDFLOAT Offshore Portugal
Other small scale test units for wind, wave, tidal, and current devices Europe
Projects currently running with installation targeted at 2012 2014
1 Floating windmill offshore Spain
2 Floating windmills offshore southern France
2 Floating windmills offshore Japan
1 floating windmill USA
Several wind, tidal, wave, and current devices planned in Europe, Africa, Asia,
Japan

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Mooring systems in general : Catenary mooring

chain
wire rope
drag embedment anchor

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Mooring systems in general: Taut leg mooring

synthetic rope
wire rope
vertical loaded anchor (VLA)

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Mooring system elements

SEA LEVEL
90 m m rig w ire

Mooring systems are

Either pre-installed
or installed when the unit arrives at the location

Swivel
Shackle

Pearlink
Pearlink
Thim ble

133 m m x 1000 m
(or 1500 m )
polyester rope

Shackle
Sw ivel

Thim ble
Pearlink

Pearlink

84 m m x 500 m
O R Q chain
SEABED
15 m T Stevpris
M k5 Anchor

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

M OO RED O BJECT

Anchoring options

gravity anchor

Gravity installed: DPA, torpedo, etc

pile

suction pile

drag embedment anchor

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

A drag embedment anchor is pulled in (dragged in) to the subseabed. The

capacity and performance is a function of anchor type/size and the in-situ
geotechical conditions.

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Majority of the moored structures around the world uses drag anchors;
Vryhof only over 9000 anchors - about 1600 anchors on permanent systems
Stevin

Stevpris Mk3, Mk5

Stevpris Mk6

Stevshark Mk3, Mk5

Stevmanta VLA

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Installation records: project distribution world-wide

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Only a special category of drag embedment anchors is suitable for offshore use

A Class anchors

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Anchor holding capacity in medium dense silica SAND

Typical Ultimate Holding Capacity [ton] -->

10000

1000

100

10
1

10

100

Anchor size [ton] -->

Stevpris Mk6

Bruce FFTS

Flipper Delta

Moorfast

Stockless

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

DESIGN PROCESS : requirements / specs

Client specifies
Mooring / metocean conditions
Type of mooring system
Spread or single point
Catenary or taut or semi-taut
Type of moored object
Permanent (FPSO, FSO, FPI)
Temporary (MODU, barge, etc)
Mooring line characteristics
Anchor loads (quasi-static / dynamic)
intact
damaged
transient
Specifications and applicable codes

Client may provide

Site conditions
Location (maps)
Bathymetry
Geophysical data
Geohazards
Geological data
Geotechnical data
Suitable anchor
type & size
fluke/shank angle setting
Drag + Penetration
Inverse catenary of forerunner
Installation requirements
Installation performance
Long term performance

Client requires
The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,
Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

ANCHOR HOLDING CAPACITY & ANCHOR STABILITY

is a function of

soil conditions,
anchor type,
anchor size
Fluke/shank angle setting

ANCHOR CAPACITY & STABILITY

is not dependent on the dead weight / dry weight of the anchor but on
the design / geometry of the anchor!!
Our designs meets the requirements of the all classifications societies or regulatory
authorities. We have working experience will all classification societies worldwide.

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Utilising results from anchor tests: Soft models

Empirical

Anchor _ UHC = Ac *W n
Fins
p
Anchor _ penetration =
* A pd * [W ]
UHC
m
Fins
d
Anchor _ drag =
* Ad * [W ]
UHC

CBR & KBR 9000 anchors, thousands of documented installation

Numerical, constitutive

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

A simple anchor sizing exercise for generic soils

soil

: very soft clay

: silica SAND

forerunner

: chain

: chain

required UHC

: 400 t

: 400 t

pre-tension load

: 250 t

: 250 t

10 t

5t

Stevpris Mk6 size :

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Fluke/shank angles

Small, middle and large fluke/shank angles.

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Mounting and changing fluke-shank angle is simple and quick 25 40 min

shank

front pintle

fluke

sand angle

rear pintle

mud angle

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Numerous Installation means and methods are applicable

See our anchor manual or visit www.vryhof.com
Stevpris /Stevshark handling/deployment with chaser

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Stevpris /Stevshark can be retrieved by

using mooring line itself
PCP
Recovery pennant
Recovery bridle

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

STEVMANTA VLA: anchor of choice for semi-taut and taut leg

moorings with very high vertical and horizontal loads

Permanent moorings

Temporary moorings, MODUs

Angle adjuster

Angle adjuster

Shear pin

Chain shank

Wire shank
Fluke plate

Streamlined fluke plate

Recovery socket

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Characteristics of the Stevmanta VLA

Deep penetrating anchor in soft soils

Suitable for supporting large vertical and horizontal loads

Optimal choice for semi-taut and taut leg moorings

Easy installation: installed like a conventional drag embedment anchor

After installation, loading at any angle (0 to 90 degrees)

Loading in all directions possible

V/H ratio : 2.5 to 3.5

Easy anchor recovery

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Stevmanta VLA is suitable for

high mooring loads with 0 to 90 uplift angle at the mudline AND
loading directions with 360 degrees freedom (weathervaning systems)

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Installation options: various methods are possible for details please refer to
Vryhof Anchor manual or www.vryhof.com/ammanual.htm

Option 1: Single line installation with one AHV

Single line installation: shear pin - angle adjuster

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Stevmanta VLA recovery

1) With tail

2) With special sockets

3) pull-back the installation line:

double line and fixed angle
adjuster option

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Other installation options for drag embedment anchors are to use surface or
subsea tensioning methods
High horizontal loads with vertical pull in the order of 40%
to 50% of the required tension
Use of small installation vessels
Real-time measurement and record of tension data
Less sensitive to sea state

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Load, anchor penetration and drag can be measured

At the field by simple means

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

As well as using advanced tools like Stevtrack

with the real time measurement of load at the anchor and anchor
positions/orientations

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Stevpris, Stevshark, and Stevmanta anchors have a long successful track record
EUROPE NORTH SEA
Both permanent and temporary/mobile units
Stevpris/Stevshark common
Anchors installed and proof tension tested 150 500 tons and at/above 820 tons
Stevmanta VLA in congested areas

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Stevpris, Stevshark, and Stevmanta anchors have a long successful track record
Middle East Arabian gulf
Permanent and temporary moorings with Stevpris / Stevshark Mk5 anchors
11 to 31 tons installed at 200 to 600 tons in cemented carbonate soils

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Stevpris, Stevshark, and Stevmanta anchors have a long successful track record

South East Asia - Australia

Over 200 permanent projects where Vryhof anchors are being used
Many FPSOs, FSOs, SPMs, CALM buoys etc. anchored with Stevpris & Stevshark anchors
Many MODUs operating in the region are using Stevpris & Stevshark anchors
Stevmanta VLAs used: MODU moorings and marine/civil construction
Stevshark Mk5 is the anchor for Australian carbonate settings: cemented soils, calcarenite,
calcilutite, etc.
25 mT Stevpris anchors installed and proof tension tested above 725 tons
Stevtensioner: commonly used

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Stevpris, Stevshark, and Stevmanta anchors have a long successful track record

Mediterranean & AFRICA

Stevpris and Stevshark anchors installed in record times

MODU, SPM, FSO and FPSO moorings
MODUs moored with Stevmanta VLAs at water depths of ~2000 m
Single point / weatherwaning moorings with Stevmanta VLAs over 1300 m water depth
Anchors installed and proof tension tested above 760 tons

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Stevpris, Stevshark, and Stevmanta anchors have a long successful track record

Brazil

Stevpris and Stevshark are used for MODUs and permanent moorings
3 FPSO + 3 FPU moored with Stevmanta VLAs & Several MODUs with Stevmanta VLAs
Water depths where Stevmanta VLAs used have reached over 2150 meters
Design UPC level has reached over 1200 tons
Polyester common
2 to 4 anchor legs are completed per day

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Stevpris, Stevshark, and Stevmanta anchors have a long successful track record

Central America

Stevpris and Stevshark on MODU and permanent mooring systems

36 mT Stevpris Mk5 anchors in extremely soft organic soil
Anchors proof tension tested at 688 tons

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Stevpris, Stevshark, and Stevmanta anchors have a long successful track record

GOM
Stevpris / Stevshark is common
Several MODUs using Stevmanta VLAs
Water depths over 1600 meters
Polyester and wire rope systems
Smaller AHVs, yet 3 to 4 anchor legs per day

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

Stevpris, Stevshark, and Stevmanta anchors have a long successful track record
Canada - Alaska

Stevpris Stevshark on MODUs and

permanent units
Very dense or hard soils
Arctic conditions
60 mT (15mT) Stevshark Mk5 anchors
installed at 836 tons (5-15 m drag)

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto

CONCLUSIONS
Drag Embedment Anchors (DEA) are simple but robust offshore foundations
Design is based on soil mechanics principles
Requires less soil data (i.e. huge cost savings in site investigation campaigns)
Well tested and proven technology
Large track record worldwide; Vryhof only over 9000 anchors
Anchor capacity, penetration, drag, and long term behavior are well predicted
DEAs are field load tested; reliability level is verified before put in service
Simple installation methods: the installation does not require special vessels
DEAs are recoverable and re-usable
DEAs are cheaper than other offshore foundations; less offshore installation budget

The use of drag embedment anchors in offshore applications; by Senol Ozmutlu,

Offshore Renewable Energy, 10-12 May 2012, Porto