<p style="line-height: 100%; text-indent: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in">As renewable energy developers start venturing into deeper waters, floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are becoming the preferred solution over fixed supporting structures. Many similarities can be identified between a FOWT and a floating oil and gas facility, such as floater concepts (spar, semi-submersible, tension leg platform, etc) and their mooring system designs (spread moored or single point mooring). This paper discusses the mooring designs for FOWTs by leveraging the extensive experience gained from the offshore oil and gas industry. Similarities and difference are highlighted in design criteria, mooring analysis, long-term integrity, and installation. Regarding mooring design and analysis, established practices are reviewed. Regarding long-term mooring integrity, failure rates are summarized. Meanwhile, a few well-known issues are discussed such as line break due to fatigue, corrosion on chain, and falling apart of clump weight. Regarding installation, established method for prelay and hook-up are reviewed. Finally, some opportunities for cost reduction of mooring systems of FOWTs are presented related to project execution of large scale wind farms as well as potential areas of innovation, such as installation methods, use of synthetic fiber rope, and digititalization. In short, the state-of-the-art practices from the oil and gas industry are reviewed and documented to benefit the developments of upcoming FOWT projects.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; text-indent: 0.25in; margin-bottom: 0in">&nbsp;</p>

Mooring Designs for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines Leveraging Experience From the Oil and Gas Industry

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/OMAE/OMAE2021/volume/85116

OMAE 2021

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