API Recommended Practices for Gulf of Mexico Production Facilities Updated

Bulletin 2HINS, Guidance for Post-hurricane Structural Inspection of Offshore Structures, First Edition, May 2009

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide guidance for post-hurricane, above and below water, structural inspections of fixed and floating structures located in the Gulf of Mexico. The goal of these special inspections is to determine if a structure sustained hurricane-induced damage that affects the safety of personnel working on the structure, the primary structural integrity of the asset, or its ability to perform the purpose for which it was intended.

This document is applicable to permanent fixed and floating structures in the Gulf of Mexico. In this document, inspection refers to structural inspections only and does not include inspections of process, piping, electrical and instrumentation or other systems and components of the platform, unless noted otherwise.

Fixed structures include steel jacket or template platforms, towers and compliant towers, caissons, minimum non-jacket and special structures that are fixed to the seafloor. Design of these structures generally follows API 2A-WSD guidelines.

Floating structures include tension leg platforms (TLP), spars, deep draft caisson vessels, semi-submersibles and any other type of floating or tethered structures. Design of these structures generally follow API 2T, API 2FPS, API 2SK, API 2RD and API 2I guidelines.

This document describes post-hurricane structural inspection of structures designed in accordance with the following API documents:

• API 2A-WSD
• API 2A-LRFD
• API 2TD
• API 2T
• API 2FPS
• API 2SK
• API 2RD
• API 2I

These structures may also be designed and operated in accordance with regulatory and classification society guidelines and these should be applied as required.

• First Edition, May 2009
• Pages: 16
• Price: $80.00
• Product No. G2HINS01
• Order here

RP 2SK, Design and Analysis of Stationkeeping Systems for Floating Structures, 3rd Edition, October 2005
Addendum, May 2008

API RP 2SK, Appendix K, provides guidance for design and operation of MODU mooring systems in the Gulf of Mexico during the hurricane season. The guidance was developed through a cooperative arrangement with the American Petroleum Institute's Subcommittee on Offshore Structures RP 2SK Work Group and the Joint Industry Project entitled "US Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Mooring Strength Reliability" (MODU JIP). The information presented herein is premised on the existence of a MODU evacuation plan, the intent of which is to assure timely and safe evacuation of all MODU personnel in anticipation of hurricane conditions.

This guidance is supplemental to the following documents:

• API RP 2I, "In-Service Inspection of Mooring Hardware for Floating Structures", 3rd Edition (2008)
• API RP 2SM, "Recommended Practice for Design, Manufacture, Installation, and Maintenance of Synthetic Fiber Ropes for Offshore Mooring", 2nd Edition (2014).

This guidance replaces API RP 95F "Gulf of Mexico MODU Mooring Practices for the 2007 Hurricane Season - Interim Recommendations", 2nd Edition, April 2007.

Recommended Practice 95J, Gulf of Mexico Jackup Operations for Hurricane Season - Interim Recommendations, First Edition, June 2006

The purpose of this recommended practice is to present an interim approach to siting Jackup Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) and to recommend certain operational procedures to enhance Jackup survivability and stationkeeping during hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico during drilling, workover and while stacked (idled) at a non-sheltered location. This RP provides guidance and processes and when combined with an understanding of the environment at a particular location, the characteristics of the unit being utilized, and other factors, may be used to enhance operational integrity. This RP was developed through a cooperative arrangement with the International Association of Drilling Contractors' (IADC) Jackup Rig Committee. Specifically, this RP provides guidance in the following areas:

• Site - including location-specific, geotechnical, and metocean;
• Preloading Process;
• Air Gap Recommendations;
• Unit Preparations and Evacuation;
• Post Storm Recovery;
• and Post Storm Inspections.

Copies of API RP 95J, First Edition, may be purchased for $60.00 each. API members receive a 30% discount on orders. Order here.

• First Edition, June 2006
• Pages: 15
• Price: $60.00
• Product No. G95J01

Bulletin 2TD, Guidelines for Tie-downs on Offshore Production Facilities for Hurricane Season, First Edition, June 2006

This bulletin was developed by the API Hurricane Evaluation and Assessment Team (HEAT). The team was formed in late 2005 to address the impacts of Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina, and Rita on offshore installations.

The purpose of this bulletin is to raise the awareness of the need to evaluate the tie-downs in use on offshore production facilities for drilling rigs, permanent equipment, and facilities such as quarters, helidecks, etc. The information contained herein is presented as recommendations that a platform owner/operator or drilling rig owner/operator may choose to undertake in the short-term and intermediate term in an effort to improve tie-down performance during hurricanes.

The long-term plans of HEAT include evaluating the need for detailed design requirements for rig and permanent equipment on floating and fixed offshore platforms and if needed how to best include that information in the suite of API standards.

Copies of API Bulletin 2TD, First Edition, may be purchased for $49.00 each. API members receive a 30% discount on orders. Order here.

• First Edition, June 2006
• Pages: 3
• Price: $49.00
• Product No. G2TD01