• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.345-369
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• 2017

The ocean environment offshore West Africa is considered to be mild. However, the generated swell from distant North and South Atlantic during austral winter and summer can reach high wave amplitudes with relatively low wave periods or low wave amplitudes with long wave periods, the later can be a crucial scenario to consider when the assessment of vessel resonance is of importance. Most offshore operations, which include offshore drilling, and installation in West Africa, are carried out from floating systems. The response of these systems and performance are governed by characteristics, such as amplitude and frequency of the wave and swell seas. It is therefore important to fully understand the sea conditions offshore Nigeria. This study covers the description of the swell sea offshore Nigeria using Bonga offshore wave measurements collected from the directional wave-rider (DWR), positioned at the Bonga site off the coast of Nigeria.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.25-47
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• 2020

A study of the wave conditions for the Asabo offshore location at the Qua Iboe oil field in Eastern Nigeria has been carried out. Statistical analysis was applied to three (3) years of data comprising spectral periods, Tp and significant wave heights, H_s. The data was divided into two (2); data from October to April represents one set of data and data from May to September represents another set of data. The results were compared with similar studies at other locations offshore of West Africa. It was found that there is an absence of direct swellwaves from the Southern Ocean reaching the location under study (the Asabo site). This work suggests that the wave system is largely emanating from the North Atlantic storms. The presence of numerous islands near the Asabo location shields the site from effects of storms from south west and therefore swells from the Southern Ocean. It is noted that the local wind has little or no contribution. An H_s maximum of 2 m is noted at the Asabo offshore location. It is found that the Weibull distribution best describes the wave distribution at Asabo. Thus, the Weibull distribution is suggested to be adequate for long term prediction of extreme waves needed for offshore design and operations at this location.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2016

This study demonstrates the result of mooring analysis for five spread-moored FPSOs having different length-to-breadth (L/B) ratios from 4.5–6.5. FPSOs are subjected to four metocean conditions, ones from the Gulf of Mexico (Hurricane/Loop current condition), West Africa, Nigeria, and Brazil Campos Basin, which are amongst the most typical offshore oil and gas fields. With change in design parameters of OBA (Outer bundle angle) and IBA (Inner bundle angle) combinations, a change in the line tension is demonstrated and the OBA-IBA combinations having the smallest line tension are presented for each L/B ratio and sea, respectively. This study is expected to influence the preliminary design layout of an FPSO spread-mooring system as a function of the L/B ratio and metocean conditions.