Component, Joint and System Based Environmental Load Factor for Jacket Platforms in Malaysia

ABSTRACT Environmental load factors, currently used by the codes of practice for jacket platform design in Malaysia, are based on calibration of platforms located in Gulf of Mexico and North Sea. This does not reflect the locations where moderate climate governs i.e. regions lying near equator like Malaysian waters which lies at about 7deg from the equator. Four platforms from three different regions of Malaysia were selected for the reliability analysis and in this paper one platform results are presented, which is located near Peninsular Malaysia. Modified environmental load factor is proposed for this region considering component, joint and system reliability based calibration. KEY WORDS: Load uncertainty; Resistance uncertainty; Reliability; FORM; Monte Carlo Simulation; API (WSD) & ISO 19902 Codes