Subsea Drop Object Analysis
Understanding of the DNV Approach
Adekola Obayomi (CEng, MIMarEST)
27 February 2018
Content
• Recommended Practice
• Object Excursion by Group
• Probability of Hit
• Simulation Examples of Object Excursions
• Conclusion
Recommended Practice
• The primary requirement for a dropped object study is to categorise identified dropped objects
into sizes and weights and estimate the excursion distance from the water entry drop point.
• This is usually achieved using the categories from DNVGL-RP-F107 (Risk assessment of
pipeline protection)
Source: Table 3.1, DNVGL-RP-F107
Recommended Practice
• The excursion of the object subsea is calculated based on the water depth and angular deviation
using the table below
Source: Section 5.0, DNVGL-RP-F107
Other Recommendations
DNVGL-ST-N001 recommends the following for dropped object assessment
Object Excursion by Group
Water depth = 99m
Weight Angular deviation Excursion Excursion
No Description
(tonnes) (α) (deg) Distance (m) Diameter (m)
DNVGL-RP-F107
1 <2 15 26.53 53.05
2 Flat/ Long shaped 2-8 9 15.68 31.36
3 >8 5 8.66 17.32
4 <2 10 17.46 34.91
5 Box/Round Shaped 2-8 5 8.66 17.71
6 >8 3 5.19 10.38
7 Box/Round Shaped >> 8 2 3.46 6.91
DNVGL-ST-N001
1 General N/A 20 36.03 72.07
Excursion Distance / Diameter 36.03 72.07
Probability Hit Graph
Water depth = 99m
Radius x Phit
(m)
0 0.0000
5 0.1104
10 0.2186
20 0.4211
30 0.5949
40 0.7330
50 0.8347
60 0.9041
70 0.9479
80 0.9736
90 0.9875
100 0.9945
110 0.9977
120 0.9991
130 0.9997
140 0.9999
150 1.0000
Drop Zone Plots (20deg Excursion Angle)*
*68% probability of hit
inside exclusion zone
based on DNVGL
normal distribution
formula
OrcaFlex Setup model
Content
SIMULATION EXAMPLES
Scatter diagram and fall profile of dropped Objects
Conclusion
• It should be remembered that the lateral deviation formula in the code only gives a seabed
excursion distance where 68% of objects in the category will fall.
• The most common calculation produced by subsea contractors for calculating the safe
overboarding distance from assets of interest does not reflect the actual possible excursion
distance the dropped object cover
• Measures in accordance with the As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) principle
should always be put in place to assess and mitigate risk of a dropped object on an asset of
interest during lifting operations which can lead to a drop event.
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