SIMULATION STUDY OF BARGE MOTIONS DURING PIPE LAYING IN DEEP WATER

The objective has been to determine the effect of the pipeline on barge motions during pipe laying in deep water, with emphasis on dynamic coupling effects through the pipe tensioner. The barge motions have been studied by simulating the pipe laying process on a digital computer. Mathematical models have been developed for the pipelaying equipment (semi-submersible barge, mooring system, pipe tensioner, pipeline) and the environmental forces (wind, current, waves). Several simulation runs were made of the characteristic barge forward motion during pipelaying, with and without pipeline connected. Comparisons of the resulting trajectories show that the effect of the pipeline is small.