A Study on the Structural Failure Mechanism and Reserve Strength Ratio of Tarpon Monopods

This paper addresses the structural response and characteristics of a Tarpon platform, presented as an in depth sensitivity study of its structural system from the perspective of its reserve strength ratio and mode of failure. The Tarpon platform is one of many marginal field minimal platform concepts in use worldwide. PETRONAS currently owns and operates several Tarpons in Malaysian waters. A single platform of which its data is most complete and available is chosen to represent the fleet of Tarpon Monopods in Malaysian waters. The platform, heretofore named Platform A, situated offshore Terengganu, is modeled and simulated in SACS v5.3 to reflect it’s as built condition. The SACS Collapse module was utilized to simulate the Tarpon’s ultimate strength which serves as a benchmark for the comparison of the static in place analysis to obtain the Reserve Strength Ratio (RSR). The initiating mode of failure was determined to be at the anchor piles. The results point out that the Tarpon Monopod has a low structural redundancy, especially where there is a loss of wire rope.