Fugro-McClelland Marine Geosciences, Inc.

Structural Monitoring Department

Suction Caisson Research 1 of 8

January 29, 2003



Subject: Large Scale Instrumented Offshore Suction Caisson Tests To Study Set-Up
Around Suction Caissons

Fugro, under the sponsorship of ExxonMobil, has successful completed a two year program studying the
set-up rate, and resulting axial increase in pullout capacity with time, of suction caissons. This was carried
out through a testing program of large-scale instrumented caissons. Three different near full-size caissons
were tested to evaluate the effects of varying the diameter, wall thickness and length of suction piles. The
test caisson geometries and characteristics are as follows:
The three different caissons were tested, so as to evaluate the effects of varying the diameter, wall
thickness and length. The test caisson geometries and characteristics are as follows:


Caisson
Diameter
D (ft)
Wall
Thickness
t (in.)
Length
L (ft)
L/D
Ratio
D/t
Ratio
Small 1 5.5
3
/
8
22 4 176
Small 2 5.5 22 4 88
Large 11 44 4 176
The caissons were installed in a soft clay site in the Gulf of Mexico, chosen because of the availability of a
previous Conoco pile test site and to get as close to a similar characteristic of that as soils in deep water.
The caissons were outfitted with the necessary valves and fittings to allow water to escape during self-
weight penetration and application of under pressure by suction during installation or overpressure for
pump out load tests. Appropriate lifting lugs and outside top stiffener(s) has also been installed to provide
the necessary lifting points during deployment and during pull-out and re-deployment.

44 Ft long, 11Ft diameter, Wall thickness Instrumented Suction Caisson.
Fugro-McClelland Marine Geosciences, Inc.
Structural Monitoring Department


Suction Caisson Research 2 of 8


22 Ft long, 5.5 Ft diameter, and
3
/
8
Wall thickness Instrumented Suction Caissons. ( valves at
pore pressure points are used for filling only)
The caissons were instrumented with differential and total pore pressure transducers, seafloor reference
pressure transducers, differential pressure transducers, tilt sensors, plug level sensors, seafloor reference
level sensors, temperature transducers, load cells, internal and external displacement and flow meters. All
data was automatically acquired through redundant data loggers, powered by redundant power supplies.

Typical Sensor Overview for C3
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Structural Monitoring Department


Suction Caisson Research 3 of 8


Overview of instruments
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Structural Monitoring Department


Suction Caisson Research 4 of 8

In addition, two 50 foot long pore-pressure sensing / CPT arrays were independently installed prior to
installation of the 11-ft-diameter caisson (one installed where the center of the pile would be once installed
and the other a short distance from where the outside pile wall would be). The array had a total of five total
pore pressure transducers and one PCPT. To get an indication of far field pore pressure, the pore pressure
transducers were allowed to dissipate to near 100% before the large caisson was installed. During the
installation, load tests and extraction of the large caisson the pore pressures from the spear were recorded
by a data logger attached to the top of the spear assembly.


Pore pressure array and CPT sensor.
The testing program was designed to evaluate the magnitude of pore pressure increase at the pile wall
(inside and outside) due to caisson installation and the rate of pore pressure dissipation with time for the
three caissons.
The two independent pore pressure sensing arrays recorded the pore pressure response both in the middle
of the soil plug and within 18 inches outside the pile, for comparison to the response of sensors flush
mounted to the interior and exterior pile wall.
Also, the program measured the increase in pullout capacity with time (set -up) of the smaller caissons, by
measuring pullout resistance by crane pull tests, as well a comparative pump out tests. Set -up load testing
of the larger pile was accomplished by a combination of crane pull and pumping out.
Tests were planned for various intervals from 1 hour to 90 days (or more) to develop the full setup curves in
terms of evolution with time of pore pressure response and skin friction resistance.

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Structural Monitoring Department


Suction Caisson Research 5 of 8






Deployment and Testing

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Structural Monitoring Department


Suction Caisson Research 6 of 8

This program is currently being offered for participation to others at a cost of $300,000 per participant.
Typically the data collected can be used for:

Accurately predict the increase in pile capacity with time (Set-up)
Evolution of pore pressure dissipation with time (field permeability)
Characterizing of Nc with reverse end bearing data.
Data to evaluate Diameter / wall thickness
Data to evaluate self-weight penetration and required installation suction
Soil Plug behavior
Soil zone of remolding
Quantification of excess pore pressure field (internal and external) during installation
Determination of effects on pore pressure field (internal and external) during load events
Distribution of external soil strain in the shear zone during load events
Data to establish the value of the NGI factor

Our initial findings from the program are that the data acquired during testing will revolutionize the current
engineering philosophies in suction pile design.


Typical Data From Internal Spear Array
Fugro-McClelland Marine Geosciences, Inc.
Structural Monitoring Department


Suction Caisson Research 7 of 8

To put the costs into prospective consider if you had data to evaluate or minimize the following:

In project costs, schedule and execution flexibility
With better knowledge of set-up time may resulting in:


Saving in mob-demob (depending on vessel).
More optimized planning of installation sequence to allow for capacity
development: e.g., install suction anchors/ mooring lines, demob
(within field) to install something else (such as pipelines or flowlines)
and to install FPSO, SPAR or surface wellhead platform etc. without
demob (depending on vessel rate and weather operability).
Greater savings potential for some programs.
Reduced pile fabrication costs (designed and built for known setup
and capacity)



Consider if you had data to evaluate and capitalize on the above!


Being able to quantify setup times provides these capabilities:
Can assess risk and be able to respond in the event of installation
schedule upset.
Can more reliably design using actual setup data rather than using
estimates from FEM or small-scale pile tests.
Better position to get classification and certification authorities
acceptance.

Fugro-McClelland Marine Geosciences, Inc.
Structural Monitoring Department


Suction Caisson Research 8 of 8



The program data has increase the capability to efficiently design large diameter suction caissons
in deepwater, particularly in those cases where setup is critical, such as with taut line systems.
This program is currently being offered for participation to others at a cost of $300,000 per participant. We
would like to find out if your company may be interested in licensing the data from this testing program. If
you are interested in joining the study, and would like any further information please do not hesitate to
contact either of the undersigned at the address below. We are preparing a presentation of the complete
project.
If you would like to attend our presentation on February 21
st
, 2003 at our offices in Houston please do not
hesitate to contact me at the address below.
Very truly yours:



Paul R. Stevenson
Regional Manager
Fugro Structural Monitoring
6100 Hillcroft (77081)
P.O. Box 740010
Houston,
Texas 77274

Phone: + (1) 713-369-5600 Main Number
Fax: + (1) 713-369-5570
Direct: + (1) 713-369-5594
USA Cell:+ (1) 832 434 9442
Email: pstevenson@fugro.com