Optimization Of Mooring Systems For Floating Offshore Platforms Considering Seabed Obstacles

With the constant increase of known oil reserves in deep and ultra-deep waters, floating production systems (FPS) have been established as the main option for offshore production activities. This work presents recent advances regarding an innovative application of evolutionary optimization methods to the design of mooring systems for FPS. Here the focus in in the consideration of actual scenarios with seabed obstacles and other restricted areas where anchors cannot be positioned. The optimization tool employs the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method. The constraints are treated by specialized constraint-handling techniques, and each candidate solution is evaluated through nonlinear analyses coupling the hydrodynamic model of the platform hull with a Finite Element model of the mooring lines and risers. A case study illustrates the application of the optimization for a real-world scenario.