Determination of Wave Impact Loads for the Hebron Gravity Based Structure (GBS)

ExxonMobil Canada Properties and its co-venturers are building a gravity based structure (GBS) in Newfoundland and Labrador to be installed on the Hebron Field offshore Eastern Canada. This area is characterized by harsh storms with large waves and high winds. The geometry of the Hebron GBS has an effect on the behavior of the incident waves with regards to their likelihood of breaking onto the shaft. Model tests of the structure in storm waves were executed to provide local wave impact load data on the shaft of the GBS. These tests required significant planning and design of the model, environment, and instrumentation in order to properly satisfy the test objectives. The results of the test showed that the measured wave impact loads on the structure were highly variable, requiring a long-term, response based method to quantify the design loads on an annual exceedance basis. In this paper, we discuss the salient aspects of the model testing effort and the long-term analysis approach which was utilized to define the wave impact loads that were incorporated into the Hebron GBS structural design.