WAVE FEEDFORWARD CONTROL OF FLOATING PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Wave basin tests have been conducted on a 129,600t turret-moored float ing production system with wave feedforward control in long-crested an d directional seas between 7m and 13.5m significant wave height. Strat egies for generating real-time signals of wave drift processes either from vessel motions or directly from wave probes, and the integration of these signals into self-tuning and modified LQG control system, are described. The results indicate that adaptive control algorithms inco rporating signals either from direct wave measurement or derived from the vessel's wave-frequency motions, can reduce the low-frequency moti ons of the system in both short- and long-crested seas.