A joint development project between ABS, a provider of classification and technical services to the offshore industry, and South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has resulted in a new tension leg platform (TLP) design.
ABS said on Wednesday that the new TLP hull concept named the ‘Samsung Enhanced hull for Tendon’ or SET, was developed using boundary conditions such as those encountered offshore West Africa.
The company added that one of the objectives of the project was to decrease the number of tendons needed for the TLP. The resulting hull configuration requires fewer tendons for stability.
Ken Richardson , ABS Executive Vice President of Global Offshore, said: “Many offshore field developers are considering TLPs, and this novel TLP hull design will provide the industry with a new option.”
ABS said that the company is performing design review and verification during the TLP concept development which is nearing completion.
Jong H. Youn , Vice President of Samsung Heavy Industries, said: “We are very satisfied with this development because the design focuses on the issues that are critical under current market circumstances.
“We strongly believe that this innovative TLP hull concept can achieve exceptional economic benefit while maintaining the same safety level and technical functionality. The successful conclusion of the development has been achieved on the basis of ABS’ extensive experience in the offshore market for various types of TLPs.”