Future offshore wind farm projects are likely to be built further offshore in deeper water with larger wind turbine generators leading to increased foundation loads. Furthermore, in some regions, foundations must be installed without exceeding strict regulatory requirements on underwater noise. Thus, traditional foundation solutions are being pushed to their limits and there is a need for innovative foundation concepts. The suction bucket jacket (SBJ) is one such foundation solution which may address these challenges. SBJs are unique in that their geotechnical design may be governed by either installation or in place requirements. Therefore, understanding the installation process is crucial for an efficient and cost effective suction bucket foundation design. In addition to understanding the ground conditions and the expected resistance during the suction bucket installation, installation risks must also be considered. To this end, this paper examines installation data from twenty suction bucket jacket foundations installed in the German sector of the North Sea. The paper provides insight into the risks which may be encountered during the suction bucket installation process such as the effect of the installation process on the internal plug, the inclination of the structure during installation and the difficulties associated with real time monitoring of the installation process.
Avi Shonberg, Michael Harte, Amin Aghakouchak and Morten Albjerg Liingaard
Keywords: suction bucket, installation risk, suction installation
Publisher: DFI