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FIBER CURTAIN USED TO PREVENT SCOURING AROUND STRUCTURES

The system has been mainly developed to combat the serious problems encountered in the North Sea, but is said to be equally applicable to offshore operations in other parts of the world. The working part of the system is a curtain, made of millions of strands of Terylene hung around the base of the structure. The strands are attached in bunches to lengths of ICI's Parafil and Paraweb which are tensioned to a metal superstructure. Usually there are several lines set about 1 m apart. The curtain of Terylene reduces the force of the water, preventing it from scouring away sand or other loose material. Work now being carried out for ICI at the Norwegian Vassdrags & Havnelaboratoriet in Trondheim confirms the damping effect of the system. It has already demonstrated that it can reduce the force of the water up to 80 percent. In practice, the system not only prevents erosion but usually reverses the natural processes and causes material to build up. This has been shown by an experimental system installed five years ago in the North Sea in one bay where a production platform was operating in about 27 m of water. After one year, some 3-1/2 m of sand had collected. Subsequent surveys showed that the artificial sandbank which was formed had become completely stable and that the seabed had become stabilized for some distance beyond the limits of the system.

  • Corporate Authors:

    Gulf Publishing Company

    Box 2608
    Houston, TX  United States  77001
  • Publication Date: 1976-5

Media Info

  • Pagination: p. 69-70
  • Serial:
    • Ocean Industry
    • Volume: 11
    • Issue Number: 5
    • Publisher: Gulf Publishing Company

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00134770
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Gulf Publishing Company
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jun 9 1976 12:00AM